RESONANCE ENERGY TRANSFER IN COLLISIONS OF LiH $A^{1}\Sigma$ WITH Li ATOMS

Abstract

Total quenching rates have been measured for specific vibration-rotation levels of LiH $A^{1} \Sigma$ with Li($^{2}S$) atoms. These rates are quite large; the cross-sections are in the range $100-600 \AA^{2}$. For $v^{\prime} = 5$, the rates peek near $J^{\prime} = 0$, and for $v^{\prime} = 6$ they peak near $J^{\prime} = 12$. These peaks correspond to minimum energy defects $\Delta E$ in the reaction \[ LiH A^{1} \Sigma, v^{\prime} , J^{\prime} + Li(^{2}S) \rightarrow LiH X^{1} \Sigma, v^{\prime\prime} , J^{\prime\prime} + Li(^{2}P) + \Delta E \] of $\sim 50$ $cm^{-1}$. Recent theoretical work leading to calculations of these rates will also be discussed.