The collisional quenching of electronically excited tin atoms Sn(51D2) by time-resolved atomic absorption spectroscopy

Electronically excited tin atoms Sn(5¹D₂), 1.068 eV above the 5³P₀ ground state, have been generated by the pulsed irradiation of tin tetramethyl and monitored photoelectrically in absorption by time-resolved attenuation of atomic resonance radiation at λ=285.06 nm Sn((5d³F₂⁰) ← (5p^{2 1}D₂))]. Deactivation rate constants are reported for the quenching of Sn(5¹D₂) with a range of collision partners and the resulting data are compared with those for analogous states within group IV, namely, C(2¹D₂) and Pb(6¹D₂). The data are discussed in terms of correlations based on both the weak and strong spin orbit coupling approximations.