ANALYSIS OF THREE-BODY FORMATION RATES COEFFICIENTS OF Hg*, Hg2*, AND Hg3* VIA PHOTOEXCITATION OF Hg VAPOR

Abstract

Decay rates of 335 nm emission from Hg$_2^*$ and 485 nm emission from Hg$_3^*$ were recorded under 266 nm photoexciation. A previously unobserved turning point in the decay rates with respect to Hg number density curve was recorded. A new rate equation model was built to reveal the three-body formation rates coefficients of Hg$^*$, Hg$_2^*$, and Hg$_3^*$ by matching the simulated decay rates with Hg number density curves with experimental recorded ones:_x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_ Hg$^*$ + Hg + Hg $rightarrow$ Hg$_2^*$ + Hg_x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_ Hg$_2^*$ + Hg + Hg $rightarrow$ Hg$_3^*$ + Hg_x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_ Hg$_3^*$ + Hg + Hg $rightarrow$ Hg$_4^*$ + Hg_x000d_ _x000d_ Pump and probe experiments with 266 nm and tunable blue laser were also conducted and suppression of both 335 nm and 485 nm emission at different probe laser wavelength were recorded. The delay between occurring time of 335 nm and 485 nm was observed. The suppression intensity of the two cases were also analyzed and compared.