Kinetics of O2(1Δ) self-quenching in the O2 — O2(1Δ) — H2O gas mixture

The self-quenching kinetics of O₂(¹Δ) molecules in the O₂ — O₂(¹Δ) — H₂O gas mixture produced by a chemical singlet-oxygen generator for an oxygen—iodine laser is investigated. The rate of change in the O₂(¹Δ) concentration in continuous-flow tube is determined by measuring the absolute spectral irradiance of the O₂ — O₂(¹Δ) — H₂O gas mixture in the ranges of 600 — 800 nm and 1210 — 1330 nm. The effective rate constant of O₂(¹Δ) deactivation in all possible channels of the O₂(¹Δ) + O₂(¹Δ) → products reaction is found to be (8±1.2)×10^-17 cm³ s^-1.