Vibrational Relaxation and Electronic Quenching-Rate Coefficients for BiF (A0+,v1) by SF6

The kinetic data base is extended for the A-state of BiF to include SF6 as a collision partner. By applying a four-level finite difference fitting routine to time-resolved fluorescence traces from v' = 0-3, one obtains rate coefficients for electronic quenching, as well as for vibrational relaxation within the A-state manifold. As was the case for our previous results with He and Ar, electronic quenching is slow in comparison to radiative decay. Vibrational relaxation does not show a simple v' dependence, but rather, for the levels examined, increases markedly for higher v'. Our results confirm the suitability of SF6 as a bulk diluent in the proposed NF/BiF chemical laser system.