Vibrational Relaxation of CN in the Shock Tube

Abstract

The violet system of CN is observed in emission behind shock waves in impure Xe. Electronic transitions originating from high vibrational levels are observed earlier than those originating from lower levels. The time lapse between (1, 1) and (0. 0) transitions is attributed to the v′ = 1→v′ = 0 vibrational transition and this is shown to be in agreement with Bethe‐Teller theory.