Foreign gas broadening of an IR absorption line of formaldehyde

The theory of nuclear spin state relaxation of symmetrical molecules like formaldehyde contains a collision time t_c that is interpreted as time between rotationally inelastic molecular collisions. This time traditionally is determined from measurements of pressure broadening of spectral lines. In order to test whether these collision times, which determine spin relaxation rate constants and line broadening coefficients, respectively, are the same or at least related to another, we have performed systematic measurements of the broadening of an IR line of formaldehyde by other gases of different pressures.