Quenching rates and fluorescence efficiency in the A 2 Sigma + state of OH
Direct lifetime measurements at pressures up to 25 torr are used to determine the quenching rates for the A 2 Sigma + (v = 0) state of OH due to N2, O2, H2O, and air. The results are found to corroborate quenching values obtained in a similar manner in the millitorr pressure range and show that the quenching cross sections of N2 is pressure independent at least up to 25 torr, that the quenching cross section of O2 is also likely to be pressure independent, and that the quenching values deduced from low-pressure experiments can be safely employed for atmospheric measurements of OH.