Integral cross sections for electron impact excitation of electronic states of N-2

We report integral cross sections (ICSs) for electron impact excitation of the A (3)Sigma (+)(u), B (3)Pi (g),: W (3)Delta (u), B' (3)Sigma (-)(u), a' (1)Sigma (-)(u), a (1)Pi (g), omega (1)Delta (u), C (3)Pi (u), E (3)Sigma (+)(g) and a" (1)Sigma (+)(g) electronic states of Np. The present data, fo r each state, were derived at five incident electron energies in the range 15-50 eV, from the earlier crossed-beam differential cross section (DCS) me asurements of our group. This was facilitated by using a molecular phase sh ift analysis technique to extrapolate the measured DCSs to 0 degrees and 18 0 degrees, before pet-forming the integration. A comprehensive comparison o f the present ICSs with the results of earlier experimental studies, both c rossed beam and electron swarm, and theoretical calculations is provided. T his comparison clearly indicates that some of the previous estimates for th ese excited electronic-state cross sections need to be reassessed. In addit ion, we have used the present ICSs in a Monte Carlo simulation for modellin g the behaviour of an electron swarm in the bulk of a low current N-2 disch arge. The macroscopic transport parameters determined from this simulation are compared against those measured from independent swarm-based experiment s and the self-consistency of our ICSs evaluated.