Collisional excitation of NO by H +, N + and O + ions

Abstract

Despite the low atmospheric abundance of NO, it is one of the more important components, playing a vital role in many atmospheric processes. The excitation of NO by the atmospheric ions H +, N + and O + has been investigated using high resolution translational energy spectroscopy conducted at 3 keV. The first three vibrational levels of the γ system, NO(X 2Π r) → NO(A 2Σ +, ν′ = 0–2) were clearly resolved. The main features of the spectra could not be unambiguously assigned as they comprised of several (11) overlapping processes, but two features N +( 3P) + NO(X 2Π r) → N + ( 5S) + NO(X 2Π r) and N + 3P) + NO(X 2Π r) → N +( 1D) + NO +( 1Σ + + e − stood out. The use of the Wigner spin conservation rule greatly facilitated spectral interpretation by reducing the number of candidate reaction channels available.