Laser-induced atomic-molecular reaction between atoms of the rare-earth metals ytterbium and europium and HCI molecules

Chemical reactions between ytterbium and europium atoms and HCI molecules were recorded in crossed atomic and molecular beams when the atoms were excited by laser radiation. When the ³P₀ and ³P₂ metastable states of ytterbium were excited, the quantity of reaction products was three times that when the ³P₁ state was excited.