Collision-induced I(2P1/2) emission in argon and xenon

Long range perturbation theory is used to estimate the magnitude of the dipole transition moment leading to iodine 2P1/2 → 2P3/2 emission during a collision with a rare gas atom. The leading term in the induced transition moment varies as R−4 owing to the dipole–quadrupole term in the interaction potential. The two-body rate coefficient for collision-induced radiative decay of I 2P1/2 is calculated using approximate model potentials for XeI and ArI. The coefficients are estimated to be 2×10−19 cm3 sec−1 and 6×10−19 cm3 sec−1 for I 2P1/2 in 300 °K Ar and Xe, respectively.