O2(1Σg+) relaxation in collisions. I. The influence of long range forces in the quenching by diatomic molecules

Rate constants for the quenching of O2(1Σg+) to O2(1Δg) by nine diatomic molecules have been calculated on the assumption that the relaxation results from long-range interactions between the transition quadrupole of O2(1Σg+) and the transition dipole and quadrupole of the quenchers. The results suggest that in most cases this may be the dominant mode by which the relaxation of O2(1Σg+) is induced. With this assumption, the major channels for the quenching processes have been identified for most quenchers.