De-excitation cross sections of metastable argon by various atoms and molecules

The rate constants for the de‐excitation of Ar(³P₂) metastable atoms by many gases were measured, and the corresponding cross sections are calculated. These rate constants were measured in a static system using the $N_2{\mathrm{(C\hspace{0.17em}}}^2{\Pi }_u{\mathrm{\to \; B\hspace{0.17em}}}^3{\Pi }_g)$ emission band at 3371 Å to detect the Ar(³P₂). The results are compared with those obtained for the quenching of He(2 ³S) metastable atoms and for photoabsorption at the argon resonance wavelengths. From these comparisons the de‐excitation cross section of metastable atoms appears to be a function of the long range forces and thus it can be presented as a function of the polarizability.