Chemistry of Electronically Excited States of Atoms. Diatomic Molecules and Diatomic Ions.

The chemistry of the metastable states of the rare gases was studied using the flowing afterglow technique. Quantitative measurements were made for the total quenching rate constants and rate constants for product formation. This work led to the discovery of the reactive quenching processes between the metastable atoms and halogen molecules the products are the rare gas halide excimers in high yield. These systems subsequently have been developed into useful lasers in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. Collisions of the excited states of the rare gase atoms with other atoms also have been characterized. Rate constants are large and exit channels may be far below the energy of the entrance channel. Author