Dynamics of the quenching of Na(3 ²P_J) by CO(X ¹Σ⁺, v=0)

The vibrational energy distribution of the CO formed in the E→V energy transfer reaction: Na(3 ²P_J) + CO (X ¹Σ ⁺, v=0)→Na(3 ²S_1/2) + CO (X ¹Σ⁺, v ≤ 9) was determined at five temperatures between 486 and 672 K. The electronically excited Na atom was optically pumped by a dye laser operating at 590 nm and the CO vibrational energy distribution measured by means of a cw CO laser operating at 5 μ m. The CO was found to have a near Poisson distribution, peaking at v = 2, with little temperature effect. The efficiency of the E→V transfer was determined to be ∼35%. These findings are consistent with those predicted by a curve- crossing model involving an ionic Na⁺(CO)^- complex.