Abstract

Investigations of the collisional interactions between sodium atoms in the 32P states and helium and hydrogen gases are described. Studies of collision-induced mixing and quenching interactions have been carried out under conditions where chemical reaction to produce sodium hydride is possible. Thus the sodium number derivatives are sufficient for radiation trapping to occur. This is in contrast to virtually all previous investigations in which conditions were such that this effect need not be considered. The intensity and temporal behaviour of laser induced fluorescence (LIF) resulting from the photoexcitation of the sodium 32P states is monitored as a function of foreign gas pressure. Whilst many of the features observed are to be expected, results show how radiation trapping strongly influences cross-section determination. The need for a more rigorous treatment of collision cross-sections under these conditions, which are often more realistic than the ‘ideal’ trapping free situations, is demonstrated.