Quenching of triplet vinylidene radicals by helium

Triplet vinylidene radicals, produced in the vacuum-ultraviolet photolysis of acetylene, are observed in absorption at 137.4 nm. The lifetime in the presence of helium, for both the protonated and deuterated species, has been determined. Expressed as a bimolecular rate constant the values are k_He^H = (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10^?14 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k_He^D = (2.4 ± 0.4 × 10^?15 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. An upper limit for removal by acetylene has been deduced.