Low temperature vibrational relaxation of carbon monoxide by light mass species

The rates of deactivation of CO(v=1) by ⁴He and by ³He have been measured between 300 K and 80 K using a pulsed laser fluorescence technique. The results show the usual strong deviation from Landau—Teller behaviour and a marked isotope effect. Comparison is made with theoretical predictions including a one-dimensional treatment which takes account of attractive forces. The present results are compared also with earlier work on the deactivation of CO by H₂, HD and D₂. It has been found that at and below 300 K D₂ is less efficient than ⁴He in the (VT) deactivation of CO (v=1) and HD is anomalously efficient. The latter effect is attributed to the involvement of rotational transitions.