Collisional relaxation of highly excited vibrational levels of I2(X)

The relaxation dynamics of vibrationally excited levels of I2(X) are of relevance to the chemical oxygen iodine laser. We have investigated relaxation of I2(v">20) by pulsed laser techniques. Individual ro-vibrational levels were populated by stimulated emission pumping. Collisionally populated levels were monitored via laser excitation of the D-X transition. Preliminary rate constants for vibrational relaxation of I2(v">20) by Ar and H2O are reported. Improved spectroscopic constants for the D state are also presented