Relaxation of DF(v = 1) by various polyatomic molecules

By means of the technique of laser-induced fluorescence, the room-temperature vibrational relaxation of DF(v = 1) has been studied in the presence of several polyatomic chaperones. The rate coefficients obtained [in units of (μ;sec·torr)^?1] are CH₄, 0.22; C₂H₆, 0.61; C₄H₁₀, 1.26; C₂H₂, 4.0 × 10^?2; C₂H₂F₂, 1.86 × 10^?2; C₂H₄, 0.175; CH₃F, 0.36; CF₃H, 1.95 × 10^?2; CF₄, 1.0 × 10^?3; CBrF₃, 5.6 × 10^?4; NF₃, 5.1 × 10^?4; SO₂, 1.27 × 10^?2; and BF₃, 7.1 × 10^?3. Results are also reported for vibrational relaxation rate coefficients for HF(v = 1) in the presence of the following chaperones: CH₄, 2.6 × 10^?2; C₂H₆, 5.9 × 10^?2; C₃H₈, 8.4 × 10^?2; and C₄H₁₀, 0.128. A comparison of DF and HF results indicates that for deactivation by C_nH_n+2, rate coefficients for DF are approximately an order of magnitude larger than for HF. The deactivation rate coefficient of DF(v = 1) by CH₄ was found to decrease with increasing temperature between 300 and 740°K.