A laser induced fluorescence study of vibrational energy transfer processes in cyclopropane

Results of infrared laser induced fluorescence studies on cyclopropane are presented. Molecules were excited from the ground state to the v₁₀ level of cyclopropane using a Q-switched CO₂ laser operating on either the P(14) or P(20) transition of the 9.6 μ branch. Fluorescence was observed from the v₆, v₈, v₁₀ + v₁₁ and v₅ + v₁₀ levels of cyclopropane. The self-deactivation of vibrationally excited cyclopropane through V → T/R processes was found to have a rate of 8.0 ± 1.5 ms^?1 torr^?1. Deactivation by rare gas collisions was also studied with comparison to simple V → T and V → R theories. V → V equilibration processes are discussed involving the v₆, v₈, v₁₀, v₁₁, and v₁₀ + v₁₁ levels.