Long-range collisional energy transfer between charge-transfer (ion-pair) states of I2, induced by H2O and I2(X).

Long-range (resonant) energy transfer, between g/u charge-transfer states of molecular iodine [i.e., f0(g) (+)((3)P(0))-->F0(u)(+)((3)P(0)) and E0(g)(+)((3)P(2))-->D0(u) (+)((3)P(2))], induced by collisions with H(2)O and I(2)(X) via multipole coupling, has been observed. Large rate constants, up to 5 x 10(-9) molecules(-1) cm(3) s(-1), for collisional transfer between a range of vibrational levels of the f0(g)(+)((3)P(0)) and F0(u)(+)((3)P(0)) ion-pair states of I(2), by H(2)O, are reported. Some previously reported studies on E0(g)(+)((3)P(2))-->D0(u)(+)((3)P(2)) and f0(g)(+)((3)P(0))-->F0(u)(+)((3)P(0)) collisional transfer, induced by I(2)(X), have been repeated and revised rate data are presented; the range of initially excited vibrational states studied has also been extended. Much smaller rate constants for quenching by I(2)(X), compared to H(2)O, are found and it is proposed that H(2)O desorbed from the walls of the sample cell could have significantly affected much larger rate data previously reported in the literature. For both collision partners, a model is proposed in which long-range, near-resonant interactions can occur when there is close matching of the change in energy in the ion-pair states with the change in energy that accompanies the rotational transition undergone by the collision partner.