Collisional deactivation of two‐photon laser excited xenon 5p5 6p. II. Lifetimes and total quench rates

Lifetimes and total binary quench rate constants of Xe 5p5 6p were measured using two‐photon laser excitation. For Xe 2p5, state‐changing three‐body quenching is observed, as well. The deactivation rates are discussed on the basis of the molecular potentials involved. Strong coupling of Xe 2p10 with states of Xe 6s’ is observed and analyzed using a kinetic model which gives consistent results with data of other workers. The dominant path for deactivation of the Xe 6s’ levels is found to involve molecular states of Xe 2p10. The total cross sections obtained are compared to measurements of the quenching of Xe 6p by other rare gases.