Electron-impact excitation of the x sup 1. Sigma. sub g sup minus , y sup 1. Pi. sub g , and o sub 3 sup 1. Pi. sub u Rydberg electronic states of the nitrogen molecule

Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.1324· OSTI ID:6996607

Allen, J S; Chung, S; Lin, C C ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (US)

Electron-impact excitation of the {ital x} {sup 1}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup {minus}}, {ital y} {sup 1}{Pi}{sub g}, and {ital o}{sub 3} {sup 1}{Pi}{sub u} Rydberg electronic states of the nitrogen molecule has been studied. We have measured the maximum electron-impact optical-emission cross sections of many vibrational bands of the {ital y} {sup 1}{Pi}{sub g}{r arrow}w {sup 1}{Delta}{sub u}, {ital y} {sup 1}{Pi}{sub g}{r arrow}a{prime} {sup 1}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup {minus}}, and {ital x} {sup 1}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup {minus}}{r arrow}a{prime} {sup 1}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup {minus}} electronic transitions. The maximum values of the optical-emission cross sections of these band systems are typically less than or on the order of 10{sup {minus}20} cm{sup 2}. The dependence of the emission cross sections of selected bands on electron energy has been studied. The excitation functions of the {ital y}{r arrow}{ital a}{prime} and {ital x}{r arrow}{ital a}{prime} bands have similar shapes below about 50 eV with a peak near 32 eV, and are approximately proportional to 1/{ital E} at high energies. We have measured the emission cross section of the {ital o}{sub 3} {sup 1}{Pi}{sub u}{r arrow}a {sup 1}{Pi}{sub g}(0,0) band as a function of electron energy. The excitation function of the {ital o}{sub 3}{r arrow}a(0,0) band has a broader shape than the excitation functions of the {ital y}{r arrow}{ital w}, {ital y}{r arrow}{ital a}{prime}, and {ital x}{r arrow}{ital a}{prime} bands. We have calculated Franck-Condon factors for the {ital y}{r arrow}{ital w}, {ital y}{r arrow}{ital a}{prime}, and {ital x}{r arrow}{ital a}{prime} band systems and compare them with the experimental emission cross sections of these band systems. The apparent electron-impact-excitation cross sections of the vibrational levels of the {ital x} and {ital y} electronic states are estimated.

• OSTI ID: 6996607
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA) Vol. 41:3; ISSN PLRAA; ISSN 0556-2791
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY DEPENDENCE
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXCITED STATES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
MOLECULE COLLISIONS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
VIBRATIONAL STATES