Deactivation processes of highly excited atomic nitrogen, N(2p23p2S)

Abstract

Rate constants for the deactivation of N(2p²3p ²S) by rare gas atoms and simple molecules were determined. N(2p²3p²S) was produced by two-photon excitation of N(2p³²D) which was produced by the two-photon dissociation of NO. Fluorescence at 149 nm after cascading to N(2p²3s ²P) was monitored to determine the decay rate of N(2p²3p²S). Except for He and Ne, the rate constants are large, especially for molecular species. For Ar, one of the main exit channels is the production of N(2p²3s²P). The production efficiency is 26±3%. Such a channel could not be identified for other quenchers. The cross-sections for the quenching by molecular species can be correlated to the long-range interaction parameters.