Knowledge Bank

Vibrational and rotational energy transfer between highly excited levels of $I2(X)$, induced by a variety of collision partners $(Ar,H2O,O2,N2)$, was studied using Stimulated Emission Pumping to prepare a specific ro-vibrational state. Laser induced fluorescence of the D - X transition was used to probe the collisionally populated states and to follow time evolution of the populations in specific states. A computer model has been developed to treat the relaxation kinetics. The model includes the effects of multiple energy transfer collisions. Three different simplifications of the full kinetics model have been investigated. Experimental results will be presented and discussed in terms of the kinetic models.