RELAXATION BEHIND SHOCK-WAVES IN IONIZING NEON

Experiments in ionizing neon are described in which heavy-particle and electron densities are measured and compared with the current kinetic model. The experimental results allow a determination of the atom-atom collisional excitation cross-section constant, giving a value of (8 +/- 2) x 10(-20) cm2/cV for the range of conditions examined. The population of two of the excited-state levels of the atom are measured and compared with theoretical predictions. The experimental populations are found to follow the expected behaviour in the quasi-equilibrium region, but are several orders of magnitude higher than predicted in the non-equilibrium zone. These findings suggest that the depopulation of excited states through ionizing collisions occurs more slowly than expected. Absorption linewidths and line shifts are also measured in the quasi-equilibrium region and found to compare well with theory. A small precursor population is also observed and population measurements in this region are compared with other experimental results in argon and krypton.