Pressure broadening of the oxygen λ5577 Å line by rare gas

We report on measurements of collision broadening of the electric quadrupole transition λ5577.35 Å in oxygen by argon, krypton and xenon. The broadening constant (linewidth added per unit atom density) was found to be: (4.3 ± 2.3) × 10^-21 cm^-1 atom^-1 cm³ for argon (reported earlier), (8.0 ± 1.7) × 10^-21 cm^-1 atom^-1 cm³ for krypton, and (10.0 ± 2.0) × 10^-21 cm^-1 atom^-1 cm³ for xenon. We discuss some experimental problems associated with these measurements.