Collisional dynamics of Bi2 A(0u+).: II.: State-to-state rotational energy transfer

Rotational-to-translational (R-T) energy transfer within v'=1 of the A(0(u)(+)) state of Bi-2 has been investigated using spectrally resolved, laser induced fluorescence techniques. Spectrally resolved emissions from collisionally populated rotational levels of Bi-2(A,v'=1) were observed for helium, neon, and argon collision partners after laser excitation of the high rotational levels J'=171, 201, and 231. Total rotational removal rates from the initially prepared state range from 2.8-8.9x10(-10) cm(3)/molecule s. Collisional population of rotational states with \DeltaJ\less than or equal to56 was observed at pressures of 0.09-1.4 Torr. The state-to-state rates are adequately modeled by the energy based statistical power gap law. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.