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(1)Sigma(g)(+) in the burning and afterglow stages of a pulsed discha rge are investigated by coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) . The total cross section for vibrational excitation of the nitrogen m olecule by electron impact to the first eight vibrational levels is de termined. The rate constant for the associative ionization reaction in volving nitrogen atoms in the metastable states P-2 and D-2 is estimat ed. It is found that the best agreement between the calculated and mea sured populations of the nitrogen molecules in the ground state X(1)Si gma(g)(+) in the afterglow stage of a pulsed discharge is obtained whe n the rate constant for VV exchange K-01(10) has the value predicted b y the quantum-classical Billing-Fisher model. (C) 1997 American Instit ute of Physics. [S1063-7842(97)00705-8].