Vibrational relaxation of ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide-rare-gas mixtures

The collision-induced vibrational energy relaxation of ethylene oxide (C₂H₄O) was studied by means of laser-induced fluorescence. The time-dependent population of the vibrational modes v₃ and v₅/v₁₂ was measured after excitation of CH-stretching vibrations near 3000 cm^?1. Rate constants for the vibrational energy transfer by collisions with C₂H₄O and the rare gases are deduced, and a simplified model for the vibrational relaxation of C₂H₄O is discussed.