Knowledge Bank

Laser excitation of P0 fluorescence in a flow system has been used to study interactions of these radicals with atmospheric gases. The radical are conveniently $excited1,2$ in the (0,0) band of the $B2\sigma ++X2\pi$ system ($\sim 3250A$). Quenching rate constants for the B state by $N2,O2,CO2$, and $H2O$ and upper limits thereof for Ar and He gases have been measured. In addition, the reaction of ground state P0 with $O2$ was briefly studied.