Dynamics of the barium-molecule system within large argon clusters

The effects of adding molecules on the LIF at 540 nm of a barium atom at the surface of an argon cluster (average size 420) has been investigated. We showed that molecules like ethanol,n-hexane and O₂ from stable complexes with ground state barium. In the case of molecules like N₂, CH₄ and SF₆, the collisional quenching of solvated Ba(¹P) is observed. The large quenching rates obtained are interpreted by a surface mobility of the collisional partners. Moreover, we showed that this collisional quenching leads to the ejection of free Ba(³P₁).