Fluorescence from a single vibronic level of SO(B
3
-,
v'
![](/images/entities/le.gif)
3) prepared by a pulse excitation has been detectedand thorough kinetic analyses for the photochemical processes have been made. Deconvolution analysis bythe integrated-profiles method of the time-resolved fluorescence profiles recorded at various buffer gas (Arand N
2) pressures has given the deactivation rates of initially prepared vibrational levels. Componential analysisof the dispersed fluorescence measured at different buffer gas pressures has provided the rate coefficients forlevel-to-level vibrational relaxation. It has been found that not only the single-quantum relaxation (
v = 1)but also the multiquantum relaxation (
v = 2 and 3) occurs by collisions with Ar and N
2. The efficiency ofquenching is strongly dependent on the vibrational levels and correlates with the energies of the lowestnonfluorescent rotational levels. Candidates for the electronic states governing the quenching process havebeen discussed based on the kinetic and spectroscopic data.