Experimental Study of the Deactivation of Excited H Atoms by Atmospheric Gases

Abstract

Hα and several other members of the Balmer series of the H atom have been observed in the afterglow of water vapor. The intensity variation of the Hα line with the pressure of H2O, O2, and N2 gases has been studied photometrically. The quenching coefficients of Hα line for these gases have been found to be 1.80 × 10−8, 3.32 × 10−8, and 1.98 × 10−8, cm3 molecule−1·sec−1, respectively.