Quenching of Infrared Chemiluminescence: Rates of Energy Transfer from HF (v ≤ 5) to CO2 and HF, and from DF (v ≤ 3) to CO2 and HF

The intensity of HF (and DF) infrared chemiluminescence from vibrationally excited molecules produced in the chain reaction $\mathrm{H}+{\mathrm{F}}_2\to \mathrm{HF}+\mathrm{F}\mathrm{;\hspace{0.17em}}\mathrm{F}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\to \mathrm{HF}+\mathrm{H}$ (and its deuterium analogue) has been studied as a function of the concentration of added CO₂ and HF. Using a steady‐state analysis rate coefficients have been determined for transfer of vibrational energy from HF $\text{(v ≤ 5)}$ and DF $\text{(v ≤ 3)}$ to (vibrationally cold) CO₂ and HF. The results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms for energy transfer and the importance of the processes in chemical lasers.