Time-dependent and time-independent measurements of emissions from Xe in Kr-Xe mixtures are reported. Kr host gas pressure was varied from 100 to 900 Torr, and Xe impurities were varied from 1% to 10% of total Kr pressure. This work has shown that the Xe${(}^3$${\mathit{P}}_1$) resonant state is depopulated by collisions with both Xe and Kr ground-state atoms. In particular, a two-body quenching rate of 10 ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{P}_{\mathrm{Xe}}^{}{}_{}{}^{}$+2100${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Kr}}$ is reported. This two-body rate is assigned to represent a collisional transition to the Xe${(}^3$${\mathit{P}}_2$) metastable state. A three-body rate of 97${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Xe}}$${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Kr}}$+7${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Kr}}^2$ was also found. The rate 7${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Kr}}^2$ is assigned to represent the formation of (KrXe${)}^{\mathrm{*}}$ molecules, while the rate 97${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Xe}}$${\mathit{P}}_{\mathrm{Kr}}$ represents either formation of ${\mathrm{Xe}}_2^{\mathrm{*}}$(${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{u}}^{+}$) or (XeKr${)}^{\mathrm{*}}$. Time-dependent measurements made in the Xe first continuum region at about 1500 Å indicate that these emissions follow the Xe${(}^3$${\mathit{P}}_1$) state.

• Received 14 September 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.43.1614