Generation and kinetic studies of Xe(5d[3/2](1)) resonance state atoms

Two-photon, pulsed-laser excitation of the Xe(4f[3/2](2)) level with concom itant amplified stimulated emission has been used to prepare the Xe(5d[3/2] (1)) resonance state atoms in a few Ton of Xe. Observation of the vacuum ul traviolet emission at 119.2 nm from the Xe(5d[3/2](1)-->5p(6) S-1(0)) trans ition permits direct monitoring of the decay rate of the concentration of t he Xe(5d[3/2](1)) atoms, and the bimolecular quenching rate constants were measured at room temperature for Ar, Xe, CF4, H-2, N-2, CO, CH4, CCl4, and Cl-4. The decay rate in Ne was too slow to measure and the decay mechanism in Kr was complex. The magnitudes of the quenching constants for Xe(5d[3/2] (1)) atoms by molecules resemble those for the Xe(6s'[1/2](1)) and Xe(Gp[1/ 2](0) or [3/2](2)) states. In addition to introducing a slow quenching rate of the Xe(5d[3/2](1)) atoms, the addition of Ar to the cell containing a f ew Ton of Xe seemed to enhance the 119.2 nm emission intensity.