Destruction of the levels <i>C</i>3Π<i>u</i> (ν′=0, ν′=1) of nitrogen by O2,CO2, CH4, and H2O

Abstract

We study the destruction of N2C3Πu(ν′=0 and ν′=1) levels in mixtures N2–O2, N2–CO2, N2–CH4, and N2–H2O at total pressures of several hundred torr. The reciprocal of the time constant for the decay of luminous impulses, measured by time-amplitude conversion, is a linear function of the partial pressures of the two constituents; for instance, τ−1=k1+k2pN2 +kxpx for the ν′=0 level, kx=0.9×10−2 torr−1·ns−1 (O2), 1.16×10−2 (CO2), 1.88×10−2 (CH4), and 1.36×10−2 (H2O). We compare the quenching cross sections obtained from kx with the ones of the kinetic theory. We indicate, lastly, that the energy liberated by C3Πu levels during the collision can be used for the formation of free radicals.