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.