Kinetics of CO first negative system excitation by ionized radiation

Investigation of the possibility of the quasicontinuous UV carbon monoxide first negative system laser development is interesting with the fact that quantum efficiency for 0-0 transition (λ = 219 nm) is 13.3%. H ₂, D₂, Kr have high values of the deactivation rate constants of X² ∑ ⁺ level. So the possibility of quasicontinuous laser on B-X transition of CO⁺ is determined by the ratio of the upper and lower laser levels quenching rates of H₂, D₂ molecules, Kr atoms. In the present work the luminescence spectra of gas mixtures with carbon monoxide under α- particle excitation are investigated. CO⁺ (B) quenching rate constants are obtained from dependence of the CO first negative system intensity on gases partial pressure in He+CO+H₂ (D₂, Kr) mixtures. At the analysis of experimental dates the population of the upper level during He₂ ⁺-CO charge exchange was taken into account. Efficiency of B ² ∑_{u, v=0}⁺ level population was defined by the ratio of the intensities of 1 system of N₂ and Baldet - Johnson system in He-N₂ and He-CO mixtures. The upper limit for the CO ⁺ (B) quenching rate constant in collisions with H₂ (D₂, Kr) is estimated as: k_q<10^-10 cm ³ s^-1. The results indicate the possibility of the efficient quasicontinuous laser action on the carbon monoxide first negative system in UV spectral region under ionized radiation source pumping.