Collision-induced transitions between electronic states B→A and C→B of laser-excited Li2 molecules

Abstract

Nonradiative transitions between the Li₂ (C ¹Π_u, B ¹Π_u, A ¹Σ⁺_u) states have been studied using monochromatic laser excitation. In a cell experiment under single‐collision conditions, the B–A transfer was induced by rare gas atom collisions. With argon, the cross section is 240 Ų. B→A and C→B transfer by Li atom collisions was observed with cross sections of 1200 and 330 Ų, while C→B transfer is not measurably induced by argon collisions. The final state rotational‐vibrational level population distribution is very broad and non‐Boltzmann.