Abstract
Rate constants for the collisional deactivation of Bi 6p3(2D°3/2) and 6p3(2D°5/2) are reported for these states by Ar, Xe, N2, H2, D2, CO, O2, CO2, and SF6 at room temperature. The excited atoms were produced by the flash photodecomposition of trimethyl bismuth and concentrations of these excited states were monitored by time resolved atomic resonance absorption techniques. Comparison of these results is made with the quenching rate constants for these states reported by M. J. Bevan and D. Husain, J. Phys. Chem. 80, 217 (1976).