Collisionally induced intramultiplet mixing of Sr(5(3)P(J)) metastable states by Ne, Kr and Xe atoms

An investigation is presented of the spin-orbit mixing within the Sr[5s5p(P -3(0,1,2))] manifold on collision with Ne, Kr and Xe at elevated temperatur es following pulsed dye-laser generation of Sr(P-3(1)). The population prof iles of all three states were monitored individually by laser-induced fluor escence and fitted to a kinetic model involving six collisional rates conne cted by detailed balance. The model also includes mixing by Sr(S-1(0)) itse lf. The resulting rate constants, together with those for Sr(S-1(0)), Ar an d He reported previously, are considered using a standard model employing t he potential wells of the reactants and also a collision-complex model. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.