Abstract
Using resonance absorption spectrometry the rates of the reactions He2(2 3Σ+u)+He2(2 3Σ+u) →products and He2(2 3Σ+u)+Ne→products have been measured in the afterglow period of electron beam excited discharge plasmas in helium at atmospheric pressures. The reported rate for the first reactions at (1.3±0.3)10−10 cm3 sec−1 is an order of magnitude lower than previously reported values. A value for the inverse transition probability of the 3 3Πg←2 3Σ+u electronic transition has also been established.