Sensitization of the OH(A 2Σ+ → X 2Πi) emission by Hg(6 3P0) metastables

The electronic energy transfer process Hg(6 ³P₀) + OH(X²Π_i, υ = 0,K) → Hg(6 ¹S₀) + OH(A ²Σ⁺, υ,K) has been studied by the sensitized fluorescence method. A rather broad spectrum of rotational population, N_υ′K′, was obtained under conditions of minimum relaxation, which illustrates the non-resonant and non-optical nature of this energy transfer process. The fractions of the exoergicity, above electronic excitation of OH(A ²Σ⁺, υ = 0, K = 0), going into vibrational, rotational and translational excitation are 0.11, 0.31, and 0.58, respectively. A statistical mode of energy partitioning, such as would result from long-lived complex formation, seems to account well for these observations.