Vibrational energy relaxation of O2 in liquid mixtures with Ar and N2

The relaxation rate of the first vibrational level of O2 in the electronic ground state was determined in liquid O2/Ar and O2/N2 mixtures. Ar and N2 were found to be inefficient in de-exciting O2. The oxygen relaxation rate decreases non-linearly with decreasing O2 concentration. The experimental results are discussed in terms of a model using the pair distribution functions of liquid mixtures. (orig.)