Electron impact excitation cross sections of N2

Abstract

Differential cross sections (DCSs) are presented for electron impact excitation of the C3Πu, E3Σ+g, and a′′ 1Σ+g states in N2 from the ground state. Vibrationally-resolved DCSs are also presented for excitation of the C 3Πν (ν′) state, where ν′ = 0–4. The DCSs were obtained from measurements of energy-loss spectra in the region of 10.75 eV to 12.75 eV measured at numerous incident energies between 13 eV and 100 eV, and for scattering angles ranging from 5° to 130°. Relative excitation probabilities for the vibrational levels of the C 3Πu state are shown to demonstrate non-Franck-Condon behavior for excitation energies less than approximately 50 eV. Integral cross sections are also presented for these excitation processes. These results are compared with existing measurements.