Reaction and Deactivation of O(1D)

Relative rates for quenching of $\mathrm{O}{(}^1\mathrm{D)}$ to $\mathrm{O}{(}^3\mathrm{P)}$ , and for removal of $\mathrm{O}{(}^1\mathrm{D)}$ by reaction, have been measured for various gases. $\mathrm{O}{(}^1\mathrm{D)}$ was produced by photolysis of O₂ at 1470 Å. The rates were determined by measuring the variation of the production rate of $\mathrm{O}{(}^3\mathrm{P)}$ atoms as a function of the amounts of quenching and reactive gases added to the system. From limits set by the lack of detection of the 6300‐Å line of the $\mathrm{O}{(}^1\mathrm{D)\hspace{0.17em}\to \hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{O}{(}^3\mathrm{P)}$ transition, and the maximum rates of two‐body reactions, the rate coefficients were put on an absolute basis. Except for Ar and He, all gases measured interact with $\mathrm{O}{(}^1\mathrm{D)}$ with rate coefficients ≥ 4 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹·sec⁻¹.