Quenching of 6p(3/2)/sub 1/ and 6p(5/2)/sub 2/ levels of atomic xenon by rare gases

The rates of quenching the 6p(3/2)/sub 1/ and 6p(5/2)/sub 2/ levels of atomic xenon by rare gases have been measured. The quenching rates are obtained from the 6p fluorescence decay following two-photon excitation. Radiative lifetimes of the two 6p levels are also measured. Rates from quenching Xe 6p(5/2)/sub 2/ by neon, argon, and krypton are larger by a factor of 5 to 40 than the same rates for Xe 6p(3/2)/sub 2/. Quenching of 6p(5/2)/sub 2/ by helium is found to be a factor of 12 smaller than it is for 6p(3/2)/sub 1/. The implications of these rates for high-pressure atomic xenon laser kinetics are discussed.<
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