The influence of amplified spontaneous emission in collisional energy transfer studies exemplified by E0g+(3P2) to D0u+(3P2) transfer in I2

We show that amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) can significantly influence population transfer between electronically excited molecular states. Such transfer can lead to anomalous conclusions being drawn from collisional energy transfer studies. We illustrate this point by considering two apparently conflicting studies involving E0g+(3P2) to D0u+(3P2) collisional transfer in I2 and show that both sets of results can be reproduced when the ASE process is correctly identified and controlled.