The electron beam technique in carbon monoxide Density and quenching rates

Electron-induced emissions of the First Negative System of CO+ were studied in CO and Ar+CO(10%) free jets. The mechanisms of the excitation¯emission process were analysed to make use of the electron beam technique in CO as well as in a CO+Ar mixture. It was shown that more than 85% of the (0,0) band emission was excited by primary electrons. Rate constants of collisional quenching of the CO+(B) state by CO and Ar were measured at low (<200 K) temperatures. The negative temperature dependence of the quenching rates is in qualitative agreement with the results obtained for other molecular ions.