Singlet molecular nitrogen in the Auroral ionosphere and under the conditions of laboratory discharge

Using the suggested model of the electron kinetics of N₂ singlet states, the population of the vibrational levels in the molecular nitrogen states (a′)¹Σ _u ⁻, a ¹Π _g , and w ¹Δ _u is calculated for the case when fast auroral electrons penetrate into the Earth’s ionosphere. It is shown for the first time that the population distribution of the vibrational levels v = 0−6 in the state a ¹Π _g in the auroral ionosphere and also in a laboratory discharge varies with atmospheric pressure insignificantly. Similar calculations for pure nitrogen atmosphere show a considerable increase in the populations of lower vibrational levels (v = 0−2) with rising pressure.     

Laser photoacoustic spectroscopy of iodine molecule: Single and two-photon absorption

Photoacoustic spectroscopy of iodine molecule has been studied in gas phase using nitrogen laser-pumped tunable dye laser. The experiment yielded the vibrational spectrum corresponding toX ¹Σ⁺(0 _g ⁺ )→B ³Π(0 _g ⁺ ) transition up to the convergence limit. The photo-acoustic spectrum in the region 17580–18850 cm⁻¹ is presented along with the vibrational analysis. Five of the vibrational bands reported earlier by Venkateswarlu, Kumar and McGlynn have been partially resolved and the structure of one of them has been analyzed and shown to be due to an overlap of (14, 2) and (12, 1) bands. The analysis was based on a comparison with the highly resolved spectrum of Gerstenkorn and Luc. The structure observed in the region 20200–20750 cm⁻¹ which is beyond the convergence limit of the transitionX ¹Σ⁺(0 _g ⁺ )→B ³Π(0 _u ⁺ ) has been analyzed as due to two-photon absorption. Most of the bands could be assigned to two transitions both originating in the ground state and terminating in two different electronic states 1 _g andE(0 _g ⁺ ), atT _e=40821 cm⁻¹ (orT ₀=41355 cm⁻¹) andT _e=41411 cm⁻¹ (orT ₀=41355 cm⁻¹) respectively.     

Determination of temperature in a plasma jet emanating from a plasma torch with sectioned inter-electrode insert from the molecular emission spectrum of nitrogen

Results of application of a method for measuring the distribution of temperature in a nitrogen plasma jet emanating from a dc plasma torch with sectioned inter-electrode insert from the relative intensities of the molecular emission bands of nitrogen in the N₂ ⁺(B²Σ_u ⁺ − X²Σ_g ⁺) first negative and N₂(C³Π_u ⁺ − B³Π_g ⁺) second positive systems are reported. The emission spectra were registered using a small-size spectrometer with medium-range spectral resolution enabling a contour analysis of ro-vibrational bands in molecular emission spectra. The obtained distribution of temperature was compared with the distribution that was determined from the emission lines due to copper atoms and with the mean-mass plasma temperature of the air plasma jet.     

Spectroscopy study of air plasma induced by IR CO2 laser pulses

A spectroscopic study of ambient air plasma, initially at room temperature and pressures ranging from 32 to 101 kPa, produced by high-power transverse excitation atmospheric (TEA) CO₂ laser (λ=9.621 and 10.591 μm; τ _FWHM≈64 ns; power densities ranging from 0.29 to 6.31 GW cm⁻²) has been carried out in an attempt to clarify the processes involved in laser-induced breakdown (LIB) air plasma. The strong emission observed in the plasma region is mainly due to electronic relaxation of excited N, O and ionic fragments N⁺. The medium-weak emission is due to excited species O⁺, N²⁺, O²⁺, C, C⁺, C²⁺, H, Ar and molecular band systems of N ₂⁺(_{2}^{+}( B ²\varSigma _u⁺^{2}\varSigma _{\mathrm{u}}^{+} –X ²\varSigma _g⁺)^{2}\varSigma _{\mathrm{g}}^{+}) , N₂(C³ Π _u–B³ Π _g), N ₂⁺(_{2}^{+}( D² Π _g–A² Π _u) and OH(A² Σ ⁺–X² Π). Excitation temperatures of 23400±700 K and 26600±1400 K were estimated by means of N⁺ and O⁺ ionic lines, respectively. Electron number densities of the order of (0.5–2.4)×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ and (0.6–7.5)×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ were deduced from the Stark broadening of several ionic N⁺ and O⁺ lines, respectively. Estimates of vibrational and rotational temperatures of N ₂⁺_{2}^{+} electronically excited species are reported. The characteristics of the spectral emission intensities from different species have been investigated as functions of the air pressure and laser irradiance. Optical breakdown threshold intensities in air at 10.591 μm have been measured.     

The inductively coupled plasma spectrum of OD in the infrared

To gain more information about the highly excited rotational states of the Δv = 1 sequence of OD vibration-rotation bands, the spectrum has been produced in an inductively coupled plasma discharge and measured with a Fourier transform spectrometer between 1670 and 5768 cm⁻¹. Along with the extension of 1–0 band, we have been successful in recording the 2–1 band for the first time. A nonlinear least square fit of these bands yielded equilibrium molecular parameters forv = 0, 1 and 2 levels with a standard deviation of 0·0032 cm⁻¹. The centrifugal distortion parameters show a systematic vibrational dependence.     

Calculation of radiative parameters for the $$ {A^1}\sum\nolimits_u^{+} {{X^1}} \sum\nolimits_g^{+} {} $$-transition of cesium dimer

Radiative parameters for vibrational bands (0 ≤ v′ ≤ 30, 0 ≤ v′′ ≤ 59) of the A¹?_u⁺ X¹ ?_g⁺ {A^1}\sum\nolimits_u^{+} {{X^1}} \sum\nolimits_g^{+} {} -electronic transition of a cesium dimer are calculated. These include vibronic band wavenumbers, Franck–Condon factors, Einstein coefficients for spontaneous emission, absorption band oscillator strengths, and radiative lifetimes for vibrational levels of the excited electronic state. Vibrational energies and wave functions for the ground and excited electronic states were found by a numerical solution of the radial wave equation based on potential curves plotted during the course of the study.     

Calculation of the spectroscopic constants for the electronic states A1Σ u+ , B1Πu, C1Πu, D1Σ u+ , and E1Σ u+ of the cesium dimer

The vibrational, rotational, and centrifugal distortion constants have been calculated for the electronic states A ¹Σ _u ⁺ , B ¹Π_u, C ¹Π_u, D ¹Σ _u ⁺ , and E ¹Σ _u ⁺ of the Cs₂ molecule. The calculation was performed on the basis of the semiempirical potential energy curves constructed in this paper. The calculated spectroscopic constants are compared with the experimental data. Original Russian Text ? A.D. Smirnov, 2007, published in Optika i Spektroskopiya, 2007, Vol. 102, No. 1, pp. 23–27.     

CARS study of the vibrational kinetics of nitrogen molecules in the burning and afterglow stages of a pulsed discharge

The vibrational kinetics of the nitrogen molecule in the ground state X ¹Σ _g ⁺ in the burning and afterglow stages of a pulsed discharge are investigated by coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). The total cross section for vibrational excitation of the nitrogen molecule by electron impact to the first eight vibrational levels is determined. The rate constant for the associative ionization reaction involving nitrogen atoms in the metastable states ² P and ² D is estimated. It is found that the best agreement between the calculated and measured populations of the nitrogen molecules in the ground state X ¹Σ _g ⁺ in the afterglow stage of a pulsed discharge is obtained when the rate constant for VV exchange K ₀₁ ¹⁰ has the value predicted by the quantum-classical Billing-Fisher model. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 34–42 (May 1997)     

Fluorescence studies of CS2 and SO2 at 121.6, 73.6–74.4 and 58.4 nm

The fluorescence spectra of CS₂ and SO₂ have been studied at three incident photon wavelengths of 121.6, 73.6–74.4 and 58.4 nm and relative production cross sections for different product states have been measured. The CS(A ¹Π→X ¹Σ⁺) system between 240 and 290nm has been obtained when CS₂ is photoexcited at 121.6nm whereas CS ₂ ⁺ (B ²Σ _u ⁺ →X ²Π _g ) and CS ₂ ⁺ (A ²Π _u →X ²Π _g ) systems have been produced between 276 and 295 and 437 and 555nm respectively when excited by both the incident photon wavelengths of 73.6–74.4 and 58.4nm. The fluorescence spectra of SO₂ obtained at 121.6 and 73.6–74.4nm include the vibrational bands of SO(A ³Π→X ³Σ⁻) and SO(B ²Π⁻→X ³Σ⁻) systems from 240 to 268 and 268 to 442nm respectively whereas the emission spectrum at 58.4nm, has contributions from the two SO systems and SO⁺(A ²Π→X ²Π) system. In all these emission spectra, the fluorescence bands of different systems have been analyzed and their relative production cross sections have been measured. The results obtained in the present investigations have been compared with a few recent reliable measurements reported in literature.     

Langmuir probe and spectroscopic studies of RF generated helium-nitrogen mixture plasma

This paper reports the effect of helium percentage variation in a capacitive RF helium-nitrogen mixture plasma on various plasma parameters and concentration of nitrogen active species (N₂(C³Π _u) and N₂ ⁺(B²Σ _u ⁺)). Langmuir probe is used for determination of electron energy distribution functions, effective electron temperature, plasma potential and electron density. Optical emission spectroscopy is used for determination of electron temperature from Boltzmann's plot of He–I lines and the relative changes in the concentration of active species by measuring the emission intensities of nitrogen (0-0) bands of the second positive and the first negative systems. The results demonstrate that electron temperature, electron density and concentration of active species increase significantly with increase in helium percentage in the mixture and RF power.     

The analysis of nitrogen rotational and vibrational bands in a helium microhollow gas discharge

Emission spectroscopy is applied to measure the gas temperature T _g and the vibrational distribution of N₂ (C ³Π_u) and N₂ ⁺(B ²Σ_u ⁺) excited states from a helium microhollow gas discharge (MHGD) at atmospheric pressure. The rotational temperature T _rot of N₂ ⁺ is determined from relative intensity of the R‐branch lines of the N₂ ⁺(B ²Σ_u ⁺–X ²Σ_g ⁺) bands at 427.81 and 419.91 nm and the well‐known Boltzmann plot (BP). Using the same diagnostic technique, the rotationally resolved N₂(C ³Π_u–B ³Π_g) band at 380.49 nm is used to measure T _rot. Under our experimental conditions, T _g is equal to T _rot = 550–650 K for nitrogen molecules and shows a slight increase with the discharge current in the current range 3–10 mA. From the intensity ratio of two consecutive vibrational bands of the same sequence, the N₂(C ³Π_u) and N₂ ⁺(B ²Σ_u ⁺) vibrational temperature T _vib = 3,700–4,000 K is determined. It has been found that N₂ ⁺(B ²Σ_u ⁺) ions have non‐Boltzmann distribution in the helium MHGD, while N₂(C ³Π_u) molecules are populated according to the Boltzmann distribution. Following the Franck–Condon principle, the vibrational distribution of the ground state of N₂(X ¹Σ_g ⁺) molecules has been determined from the N₂(C ³Π_u) distribution using the inversion matrix of elements q _XC(ν ,ν ′).     

Spectroscopic study of an rf discharge in nitrogen

The absolute populations of the vibrational levels of the B³Πg and C³Π_u states in an rf nitrogen discharge are calculated from the quantum yields of the 1⁺ and 2⁺ systems in the discharge, and the “excitation temperature” of these states is measured. Emission spectroscopic methods are used to determine the vibrational and rotational temperatures of the C³Π_u state, as well as the vibrational temperature of the B³Π_g state. These data are used to estimate the vibrational temperature of the X′∑ _g ⁺ state and the stored energy in the activated nitrogen, and to examine the mechanism by which translational-vibrational degrees of freedom are excited in nitrogen molecules in the discharge.     

Overlapping B3Π0u ← X1Σ g/+ and 1Π1u ← X1Σ g/+ non-radiative characteristic of Br2 vapour in the wavelength region 505–541 nm

The vibronic vapour phase photoacoustic spectrum of Br₂ in the wavelength region 505–541 nm (19796–18480 cm⁻¹) has been recorded using microphone as well as pump-probe method. Discrete vibronic bands superimposed on a monotonically increasing continuum background towards the dissociation limit results from the overlapping B ³Π _0u ^/+ ← X ¹Σ _g ^/+ and ¹Π_1u ← X ¹Σ _g ^/+ electronic transitions. Vibronic bands originating from υ″=0 have been used to estimate the relative rate of non-radiative relaxation as a function of the excited state B ³Π_0u vibrational quantum number υ′. A comparison with the optical absorption spectroscopy of Br₂ leads to the identification of three broad spectral regions between 505 and 541 nm (19796 and 18480 cm⁻¹) on the basis of different non-radiative relaxation processes.     

Narrow resonances of two-photon absorption of super-narrow pulses in a gas

First cw laser oscillation with thresholds below 1 mW was observed for various B¹П_u → X¹ ∑ _g ⁺ transitions of diatomic molecular sodium excited by different argon laser lines in the range of 454–488 nm. For pump powers of 0.5 W output powers up to 3 mW and single-pass gain up to 0.1 cm⁻¹ were obtained. Some properties of the heat pipe laser system are discussed.     

High resolution optogalvanic study in nitrogen discharge

Doppler limited high resolution spectrum in the wavelength region 17224 to 17236 cm⁻¹ of the first positive system (B ³Π _g −A ³Σ _u ⁺ ) of the N₂ molecule is recorded by optogalvanic spectroscopic technique using a single mode ring dye laser. It is observed that the intensity and line width of the rotational line increase with the discharge current. Dependence of the collision broadening coefficient on the current was also evaluated.     

Vibrational analysis of Fourier transform spectrum of the A3Π0-X1Σ+ and B3Π1-X1Σ+ transitions of indium monobromide

The emission spectrum of InBr molecule has been recorded in the region 350–400 nm on BOMEM DA8 Fourier transform spectrometer at an apodized resolution of 0.06 cm⁻¹ using microwave excitation technique. About 61 violet degraded and single headed bands have been recorded and are classified into two band systems, viz. A³Π₀-X¹Σ⁺ and B³Π₁-X¹Σ⁺. A few new bands have been observed and are fitted in the vibrational schemes of the two systems. Revised vibrational constants have been determined. The vibrational assignments have been confirmed by observing isotope effect due to InBr⁸¹ in the 30 bands of the A³Π₀-X¹Σ⁺ system and 19 bands of the B³Π₁-X¹Σ⁺ system. The analysis is further supported by calculating the Franck-Condon factor for InBr⁷⁹ and InBr⁸¹ molecules. The following vibrational constants (in cm⁻¹) have been determined from the analysis:      

Observation of electromagnetically induced transparency in cesium molecules

We have studied electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in diatomic cesium molecules in a vapor cell by using tunable diode lasers. We have observed a sub-natural Λ-resonance in absorption molecular band B ¹Π _u − X ¹Σ _g ⁺ at different cesium vapor pressures. The width of the EIT resonance shows a linear dependence on a cesium vapor pressure.     

Calculation of spectroscopic constants and radiative parameters for A1Σ u+ -X1Σ g+ and B1Πu-X1Σ g+ electronic transitions of sodium dimer

Vibrational, rotational, and centrifugal spectroscopic constants and radiative parameters, i.e., the Einstein coefficients, oscillator strengths, and wave numbers for vibrational transitions in electronic systems of bands A ¹Σ _u ⁺-X ¹Σ _g ⁺ (0 ≤ v′ ≤ 25; 0 ≤ v″ ≤ 44), B ¹Π _u -X ¹Σ _g ⁺ (0 ≤ v′ ≤ 29; 0 ≤ v″ ≤ 47), and the radiative lifetimes for the vibrational levels of excited states of the sodium dimer, are calculated. The calculations are carried out based on semiempirical potential curves constructed in this study. The calculated spectroscopic constants and radiative lifetimes are compared to the experimental values.     

Calculation of the quenching rate constants for electronically excited singlet molecular nitrogen

The quenching rate constants for the singlet states (a′)⁽¹⁾Σ _u ⁻ (v = 1−17), a ⁽¹⁾Π _g (v = 0−14), and w ⁽¹⁾Δ _u (v = 0−13) of molecular nitrogen colliding with an N₂ molecule are calculated using quantum-chemical approximations. It is shown for the first time that both the intramolecular and intermolecular processes of electronic excitation transfer are significant for these states. Calculated rate constants are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data.     

Electron-vibrational energy exchange in collisions of Ar atoms in the 3P2 metastable state with N2(X1S g+ ) molecules

Rate constants for electron-vibrational energy exchange Ar(³ P ₂) + N₂(X ¹Σ _g ⁺, ν = 0) → Ar(¹ S ₀) + N₂(C ³Π _u , ν′), where ν′ = 0, 1, 2, were calculated. Calculations were performed taking into account the presence of a resonance in electron scattering by N₂(X ¹Σ _g ⁺). As a result, the interaction of Ar(³ P ₂) with N₂(X ¹Σ _g ⁺, ν = 0) was characterized by attraction and, in the end, intersection of electron-vibrational potential surfaces correlating with Ar(³ P ₂) + N₂(X ¹Σ _g ⁺, ν = 0) and Ar(¹ S ₀) + N₂(C ³Π _u , ν′) at interparticle distances of 2.5–3.5 ?. Exchange interaction at which electron-vibrational transitions in the region of intersection of electron-vibrational transitions in the region of intersection of electron-vibrational potential surfaces accompanied by spin exchange were induced was calculated by the asymptotic method. The rate constants determined at 300–600 K were on the order of 10⁻¹¹−10⁻¹² cm³/s and weakly increased as the temperature grew. Mainly the C ³Π _u , ν′ = 0 state of the N₂ molecule was populated. The calculation results were in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data obtained at 300 K.