Collisional deexcitation of the excited rare gas atoms in resonant states: The Watanabe–Katsuura theory revisited

The cross sections for the collisional deexcitation of neon atoms in the lowest excited P11 state by Ar, Kr, Xe, N2, O2, CO, NO, and CH4, and in the lowest excited P13 state by O2 and CH4 have been measured at a mean collisional energy corresponding to room temperature. Data are also included for collisions of argon atoms in the lowest excited P11 and P13 states by C2H4, cyclo-C3H6, and C3H8, and collisions of krypton atoms in the lowest excited P11 and P13 states by C2H4 and cyclo-C3H6. The measured cross sections, together with those obtained in our previous studies, are compared with the cross sections calculated using the Watanabe–Katsuura theory. An extension of the Watanabe–Katsuura theory to the deexcitation of excited rare gas atoms in collisions with molecular quenchers, not atoms, is examined.