Nascent rotational distributions of N/sup +//sub 2/(X /sup 2/. sigma. /sup +//sub g/) produced by electron-impact ionization of N/sub 2/ in a supersonic beam

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6010799

Nagata, T; Nakajima, A; Kondow, T; Kuchitsu, K

Laser-induced fluorescence from nascent N/sup +//sub 2/(X /sup 2/..sigma../sup +//sub g/) ions produced by electron impact on a N/sub 2/ supersonic beam was observed. An analysis of the B /sup 2/..sigma../sup +//sub u/-X /sup 2/..sigma../sup +//sub g/ (0,0) band shows that the rotational state distributions cannot be represented by a single Boltzmann function, higher N'' levels being overpopulated. Experimental and analytical efforts were made to minimize the influence of cascading and relaxation on the rotational distributions. The rotational energy of N/sup +//sub 2/(X) thus estimated increases with decreasing electron energy from 2.26 +- 0.16 meV at 300 eV to 4.24 +- 0.27 meV at 25 eV. This trend is explained qualitatively in terms of angular momentum transfer through multipole electron--molecule interactions.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan
• OSTI ID: 6010799
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 87:11; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FLUORESCENCE
IONIZATION
IONS
LUMINESCENCE
MOLECULAR BEAMS
MOLECULAR IONS
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NITROGEN
NITROGEN IONS
NONMETALS
ROTATIONAL STATES