Luminescence and Radiations Transitions in Sulfur Dioxide Gas

Abstract

The luminescence spectrum of SO₂ gas has been measured at pressures from 0.003–1.0 torr. At low pressures, only a fluorescence from the lowest singlet state is observed. At higher pressures a phosphorescence from the lowest triplet state is also observed. The kinetics of production, luminescence, and quenching of these two states are analyzed, and certain ratios of rate constants are determined. The results are discussed in terms of current views of radiationless transitions.