Energy transfer from PO excited states to alkali metal atoms in the phosphorus chemiluminescence flame.
Phosphorus chemiluminescence under ambient conditions of a phosphorus oxidation flame is found to offer an efficient electronic energy transferring system to alkali metal atoms. The lowest resonance lines, (2)P(3 / 2),(1/2)-->(2)S((1/2)), of potassium and sodium are excited by energy transfer when an argon stream at 80 degrees C carrying potassium or sodium atoms intersects a phosphorus vapor stream, either at the flame or in the postflame region. The lowest electronically excited metastable (4)II(i) state of PO or the (PO[unk]PO)(*) excimer is considered to be the probable energy donor. The (PO[unk]PO)(*) excimer results from the interaction of the (4)II(i) state of one PO molecule with the ground (2)II(r) state of another. Metastability of the donor state is strongly indicated by the observation of intense sensitized alkali atom fluorescence in the postflame region.
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Institute of Molecular Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, Florida State University, Tallabassee, Florida 32306.