Effects of Added Gases on the Sensitized Fluorescence Spectrum of a Hg-Tl Mixture

An investigation of the sensitized fluorescence of a mercury thallium mixture without and with the addition of argon and helium gases is discussed. Data taken without the addition of foreign gases are used to extend the theory of Frish and Karaulinya to a mercury thallium mixture. Relative collision cross sections for the excitation of the thallium energy states, 9²S1/2, 7²D5/2,3/2, 8²S1/2, 6²D5/2, and 6²D3/2 were calculated for mercury thallium collisions. Data taken with the addition of argon and helium gases are given to indicate the variation of the intensity of the thallium lines as a function of argon and helium gas pressures at one constant thallium and three mercury temperatures. The explanation of the results depends on the role of mercury 6³P₁ excited atoms, metastable atoms, and mercury molecules in collision with thallium atoms for energy exchange, and also requires the use of Winans' partial selection rule and other generally accepted ideas concerning energy transfer, emission, and absorption.