Deactivation of Cd(5(3)P(J)) by H-2 and D-2: Branching ratios for the production of CdH and CdD

The deactivation processes of Cd(5(3)P(1)) and Cd(5(3)P(0)) by H-2 and D-2 were examined by employing a laser excitation-depletion technique. The concentration of the ground-state Cd(5(1)S(0)) atoms was measured in both the presence and absence of an intense saturable pump laser beam. In the presence of a pump laser, the concentration decreased in accordance with the production of CdH(CdD). From this decrease, the branching ratios for the production of CdH(CdD) could be determined. The depletion was unaffected when N-2 was added. This suggests that the branching ratios are the same for Cd(5(3)P(1)) and Cd(5(3)P(0)), although the production of CdH(CdD) is endothermic for Cd(5(3)P(0)). The branching ratios were 0.81+/-0.04 for H-2 and 0.76+/-0.06 for D-2. The efficient production of CdH(CdD) from not only Cd(5(3)P(1)), but also Cd(5(3)P(0)), can be accounted for by correlational considerations.