Electron-impact excitation of Rydberg and valence electronic states of nitric oxide: II. Integral cross sections

Integral cross sections (ICSs) for the excitation of 18 excited electronic states, and four composite excited electronic states, in nitric oxide (NO) have been determined for incident electron energies of 15, 20, 30, 40 and 5 0 eV. These ICSs were derived by extrapolating the respective measured diff erential cross sections (M J Brunger et al 2000 J. Phys. B: At. Mel. Opt. P hys. 33 783) to 0 degrees and 180 degrees and by performing the appropriate integration. Comparison of the present ICSs with the results of those dete rmined in earlier optical emission measurements, and from theoretical calcu lations is made. At each incident energy considered the current ICSs are al so summed along with the corresponding elastic and rovibrational excitation ICSs from B Mojarrabi et al (1995 J. Phys. B: At. Mel. Opt. Phys. 28 487) and the ionization cross sections from Rapp and Englander-Golden (1965 J. C hem. Phys. 43 1464), to derive an estimate of the grand total cross section s (GTSs) for e(-)+ NO scattering. The GTSs derived in this manner are compa red with the results from independent linear transmission experiments and a re found to be entirely consistent with them. The present excited electroni c state ICS, and those for elastic and rovibrational excitation from Mojarr abi eb al, appear to represent the first set of self-consistent cross secti ons for electron impact scattering from NO.