Energy transfer in Li-Cd vapor mixture: Li(3d)+Cd -> Li(2s)+Cd(5(3)P(J))

Using two-photon excitation of the lithium 3d atomic level in a lithium-cad mium vapor mixture, we observed cadmium atomic transitions and the LiCd blu e-green excimer band. The cadmium atomic lines are the result of collisiona l energy transfer from Li(3d) to Cd(5(3)P(J)) atoms. The LiCd blue-green ba nd is formed in three-body reactive collisions which involve Li(3d) and Cd( 5(1)S(0)) or Li(2s) and Cd(5(3)P(J)) atoms and a third atom. The time evolu tions of atom densities in the lithium and cadmium atomic states and the Li Cd(2(2)Pi) state were simulated by solving a system of 13 rate equations. W e estimated the value of rate coefficients at T = 1000 K fur collisional en ergy transfer from Li(3d) to Cd(5(3)P(1)), from Li(3d) to Cd(5(3)P(2)) and from Li(3p) to Cd(5(3)P(1)) to be (5 +/- 2) (.)10(-11) cm(3)s(-1), (2.2 +/- 0.8) (.) 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) and (1.7 +/- 0.6) (.) 10(-1)0 cm(3)s(-1) resp ectively. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.