Rotational Distribution of CO(b3Σ+) Produced in Energy Transfer Reaction from Ar(3P2) to CO

Abstract The rotational energy disposal of CO(b3Σ+) in the Ar(3P2) + CO reactions has been measured by observing CO(b3Σ+–a3Πr) emission in an Ar flowing afterglow. The initial rotational distribution of CO(b : ν′ = 0,1) was expressed by a single Boltzmann temperature of 7000 ± 700 K. The fraction of available energy deposited into rotational mode of CO(b), <fr>, was estimated to be 32 ± 2%.