Transition Probabilities and Collision Broadening Cross Section of the N2 Lyman–Birge–Hopfield System

Abstract

Bands of the N2 Lyman–Birge–Hopfield system (a 1Πg − X 1Σg+) have been observed in absorption in path lengths ranging from 5.6 × 10−3 to 0.5 m·atm. Comparison of theoretical and measured curves of growth and band profiles have allowed the computation of band transition probabilities, lifetimes of the a 1Πg state [τ(0) = 1.4 × 10−4sec], relative probabilities of electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole components, and a measure of the collision self-broadening cross section (σ = 1.6 × 10−14cm2).