ELECTRONIC-ENERGY TRANSFER KINETICS OF XE+(P-2(1/2)) AT VERY-LOW TEMPERATURES

Nonadiabatic Xe+(P-2(1/2)) electronic fine structure relaxation by collision with several gases has been investigated using a monitor method at temperatures near 4 K. Of the several collision partners, only CH4 and N2O exhibited measurable spin-orbit relaxation rates of 6.1X10(-10) and 1.2x10(-10) cm(3)s(-1), respectively. Both CH4 and N(2)0 possess parallel exothermic charge transfer and electronic cm quenching channels which may suggest a sequential two electron charge transfer channel facilitated electronic relaxation mechanism.