Intramultiplet relaxation of Cd(5³P₂) induced by collisions with N₂ and CO

The intramultiplet relaxation of Cd(5³P₂) was studied by using pump-and-probe techniques. The following thermally averaged cross sections were obtained for the ³P₂→³P₁ and ³P₂→³P₀ transitions induced by collisions with N₂ and CO at 63 σ₂₀(N₂) = 1.2, σ₂₁(CO) = 20.9 and σ₂₀(CO) = 7.6 in units of 10^-16 cm². Comparison of these cross sections with those fo overall deactivation shows that the intramultiplet relaxation processes are the major exit channels and that the deactivation to the ground state is minor. The curve crossing probabilities were calculated for the Cd(5³P₂)+N₂ collisions by employing a semiclassical model. It was revealed that Cd⁺-N₂^- ionic complexes play an important role.