Rotational-level-dependent quenching of A2Sigma(+) OH and OD

The role of rotation in the collisional quenching of the A2Sigma(+) v' = 0 states of OH and OD is investigated experimentally by laser-induced-fluorescence measurements in a two-chamber differentially pumped flow chamber similar to that of McDermid and Laudenslager (1982). The experimental apparatus is described in detail, and the results are presented in extensive tables and graphs. Collisional-quenching rate constants are determined for 21 different quenchers at various specific N' rotational levels and shown to decrease as the rotational quantum number increases, with no significant role for the internal levels of the colliding pairs and reasonable agreement with theoretical calculations incorporating attractive forces.