Deactivation of 3s levels of the neon atom by collisions with neon, argon, krypton, and xenon

The absorption probing method was used in an investigation of the collisional deactivation of the 3s(¹P₁, ³P₀, ³P₁, and ³P₂) states of the Ne atom in pure Ne and in its mixtures with Ar, Kr, and Xe. The rate constants of the formation of Ne*₂ excimers in collisions of Ne*(3s) with two neon atoms, and the total Penning and associative ionisation rate constants of argon, krypton, and xenon were determined. An estimate was obtained of the upper limit of the rate constant of the intramultiplet relaxation of the 3s states in collisions with neon.