Ionization of N2O by low-energy electrons and near-thermal rare-gas ions

Emission spectra between 185 and 600 nm have been investigated following near-thermal charge exchange between He⁺ and N₂O and ≤ 100 eV electron impact on N₂O. The charge exchange produces N₂O⁺Ã→X?and N₂⁺ B → X emission, but the two band systems account for at most 5% of all charge transfer products. These results and literature data on Ar⁺/N₂O are discussed in the light of Franck—Condon and energy resonance criteria as applied to low-energy charge exchange. The electron-impact experiments revealed a weak (≈ 10^?3) long-lived (≈ 50 × 10^?6 s) component in the N₂O⁺Ã→X?emission.