Excitation of XeF* by reactions of XeF2 with Ar(3P0,2),Kr(3P2) and Xe(3P2)

The reactions of the lowest metastable states of Ar, Kr and Xe with XeF₂ were studied in a flowing afterglow apparatus; XeF emission (from D²Π_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} and B ²Π⁺ states) was observed in all cases. The total rate constants (cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) for XeF^* formation were determined as 75 × 10^?11 ? Xe(³P₂);64 × 10^?11 ? Kr(³P₂) and 20 × 10^?11 ? Ar(³P_0,2). The reactions of Ar(³P_0,2) and Kr(³P₂) with XeF₂ also gave ArF^* and KrF^*, respectively. Analysis of these emissions indicates that at least two different mechanisms are operative: reactive quenching by the ionic—covalent curve-crossing mechanism and excitation transfer. The Ar(³P_0,2 + XeF₂ reaction is a sufficiently strong source of XeF(D—X) emission that the main features of the XeF(D²Π_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} ? X²Σ⁺) system could be photographed and tentative assignments of these vibrational bands are given. The XeF(D → B) emission could not be observed and the ratio of the D—X versus the D—B transition probability must be > 1000 : 1.