Collisional quenching of electronically excited lead atoms, Pb(61D2), by time-resolved atomic absorption spectroscopy using attenuation of resonance radiation

Abstract

Electronically excited lead atoms, Pb(6¹D₂), have been generated by the pulsed irradiation of lead tetraethyl in the presence of helium buffer gas and monitored photoelectrically in absorption by time-resolved attenuation of atomic resonance radiation at λ= 374 nm (7s(³P^°₂)â†�6²_p(¹D₂)). The decay of the excited atom in the presence of added gases has been investigated and rate constants for removal are reported for the following collision partners: He, Xe, H₂, N₂, O₂, CO, NO, CO₂, N₂O, CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, CF₄, SF₆ and PbEt₄. The rate data are compared with those for C(2¹D₂).