Ar(/sup 3/P/sub 2/) -N/sub 2/(C /sup 3/Pi/sub u/) excitation transfer cross section and radiative lifetimes of the nitrogen-molecular-laser transitions

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1978 · Phys. Rev., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.18.2527· OSTI ID:6587564

Bennett, Jr, W R; Flint, J

The total deactivation cross section for Ar(/sup 3/P/sub 2/) metastables in Ar-N/sub 2/ collisions was measured to be (9.4 +- 1) A/sup 2/ at 663 /sup 0/K in an experiment using pulsed threshold excitation of the Ar(/sup 3/P/sub 2/) metastables in an electron gun and monitoring the transient decay of (second positive) bands from the N/sub 2/(C /sup 3/Pi/sub u/) electronic state. It is concluded that the measured total velocity-averaged cross section is associated primarily with excitation transfer to the C /sup 3/Pi/sub u/ (v' = 0,1) vibrational levels of N/sub 2/. Comparison with other measurements implies a substantial increase of the cross section with gas temperature. The following values for radiative lifetimes of molecular nitrogen levels were also determined: (37.6 +- 1) nsec for the N/sub 2/(C /sup 3/Pi/sub u/, v' = 0) level; (40 +- 1) nsec for the N/sub 2/(C /sup 3/Pi/sub u/, v' = 1) level, and (37.9 +- 1.8) nsec for the B /sup 2/..sigma../sup +//sub u/ (v ' = 0) level of N/sub 2//sup ts+/.

• Research Organization: Dunham Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
• OSTI ID: 6587564
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., A; (United States) Vol. 18:6; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ARGON
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DE-EXCITATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
FLUIDS
METASTABLE STATES
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS