Kinetics of activated nitrogen states in late afterglow by the time-delay method

Abstract

A long-time decay of activated nitrogen is studied by the time-delay method. The kinetics in late nitrogen afterglow is determined by nitrogen atom recombination. Surface-catalysed excitation of nitrogen atom recombination at the cathode gives a metastable induced electron yield in the inter-electrode space (the Auger de-excitation process) that determines the time delay. The probability of N2(A3 Sigma u+) metastable state formation by recombination at the electrode surface is determined, as are the contribution to electron yield from this mechanism and the contribution from the gas phase metastable species. On the basis of the above-cited mechanism, the time-delay method is found to be very efficient for detection of activated nitrogen.