Experiments on N2(A 3Σu+). I. Reaction with N

Abstract

The Vegard–Kaplan bands from N2(A 3Σu+)υ′ = 0,1 were detected when highly purified, flowing N2 was subjected to a weak Tesla-type discharge. This excited state of N2 was destroyed when nitrogen atoms were added from an upstream microwave discharge. Measurements of the decay time of N2(A 3Σu+), when the Tesla discharge was rapidly extinguished, gave τ−1 = τ0−1 + 5 × 10−11[N], indicating that the reaction N2(A 3Σu + + N→N2(X 1Σ) + N, was occurring with a rate coefficient of 5 × 10−11 cm3/sec.