He2(d 3Σu+) decay rate in a high‐pressure helium afterglow

We report a total collisional quenching rate of (8.2±0.6)×104 Torr−1 sec−1 at 293 °K for He2(d 3Σu) molecules colliding with ground state He atoms. This rate is determined by observing the decay rate of dye‐laser induced d 3Σu+→b 3Πg fluorescence over a pressure range of 50 to 700 Torr.