Cross sections for the quenching of Zn(53S1) by N2, CO and alkane hydrocarbons

Cross sections for the quencing of ZN(53S1) by N2, CO and alkane hydrocarbons have been determined. ZN(53S1) was produced by stepwise excitation by using two dye lasers. The time-integrated emission intensity from Zn(53S1) was measured as a function of quencher pressure. The cross sections were determined to be 43, 21, 65, 71 and 86 × 10−16 cm2 for N2, CO, CHf4, C2H6 and C3H8, respectively. The relatively small cross section for CO suggests the presence of an activation barrier. Cross sections for the quenching of Zn(43PJ) were also measured and are compared with literature values.