In this paper, we examine the functional nature of the state-specific cross section for electronic quenching
σQ(E) in collisions of metastable noble gas atoms [Ar*(3P2) and Kr*(3P2)] with ground-state water molecules
confined to a scattering-gas cell. The relative kinetic energy range studied is E = 0.0463−0.772 eV for
Ar*(3P2) and 0.0432−0.692 eV for Kr*(3P2). These beam-gas-luminescence experiments incorporate a novel
state-specific monitor system employing Xe gas. Photon emission from a state-specific Xe state produced in
quenching collisions with the respective metastable noble gas (Ng*) atoms is a direct measure of the total
disappearance of the metastable state under scrutiny in the reaction with water vapor. We use the classical
orbiting and absorbing sphere models with empirically derived parameters [London dispersion C
disp, induction
C
ind (spherically averaged or aligned dipole), and absorbing sphere radius r
as] to predict energy-dependent
cross sections for the total quenching reactions. The underlying premise of the models is that although the
quenching process itself is envisioned to be a short-range two-electron exchange interaction, it is the long-range attractive forces between the respective collision partners that are critical in determining whether such
short-range processes ultimately occur. Values of σ
Q determined from the models are in very good agreement
with our experiment. This work supersedes our previous study for Ar*(3P2,0) [Novicki, S.; Krenos, J. J. Chem.
Phys.
1988, 89, 7031].