Collisional excitation transfer between Na and Na2

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Abstract
We have excited Na(3s) →Na(3p) with a pulsed dye laser at Na densities of 1014–1016 cm−3 with typically ∼2% Na2. From the decay time constants, intensities and spectra of the Na and Na2 fluorescences we have identified several collisional and radiative processes in the excited sodium atom‐dimer system. Comparing the solutions of coupled equations to the density dependence of the decay constants and fluorescence intensities yields a rate coefficient of (3.4+1.6−1.1) ×10−9 cm3 sec−1 for the excitation transfer process: Na* (3p)+Na2(X 1Σ) →Na(3s) +Na2* (A 1Σ and a 3Π). This indicates that some kind of long‐range interaction is operative. Other rate coefficients are determined less accurately; e.g., nonradiative Na(3p) quenching rate coefficients of 10±5×10−10 cm3 sec−1 due to dimer collisions and of 3±3×10−12 cm3 sec−1 due to atom collisions are obtained.