Vacuum UV emission by electronically excited N 2: The collision-induced N 2(a 1Π g′ υ = 0) ↔ N 2(a′ 1Σ u−, υ = 0) transition

Abstract

A weak discharge through a flowing Ar/N 2 mixture provides a source of metastable N 2(a′ 1Σ u −) molecules in the absence of N atoms. Vacuum UV emission is observed from this state and from N 2(a 1Π g), which is populated by collisional excitation of a′ 1Σ u − state molecules.