Overtone Transition 2ν₁ of HCO⁺ and HOC⁺: Origin, Radiative Lifetime, Collisional Quenching

We present spectra of the first overtone vibration transition of C-H/ O-H stretch (2ν₁) in HCO⁺ and HOC⁺, recorded using a laser induced reaction action scheme inside a cryogenic 22 pole radio frequency trap. Band origins have been located at 6078.68411(19) and 6360.17630(26) cm^-1, respectively. We introduce a technique based on mass selective ejection from the ion trap for recording background free action spectra. Varying the number density of the neutral action scheme reactant (CO₂ and Ar, respectively) and collisional partner reactant inside the ion trap, permitted us to estimate the radiative lifetime of the state to be 1.53(34) and 1.22(34) ms, respectively, and the collisional quenching rates of HCO⁺(2ν₁) with He, H₂, and N₂.