The N-2(A (3)Sigma(+)(u)) energy transfer to OH(A (2)Sigma(+)) in low-pressure pulsed RF discharges

In this paper we demonstrate that the excitation of OH(A (2)Sigma (+)) in a pulsed N-2-H2O RF discharge is produced mainly by the reaction N-2(A (3)Si gma (+)(u), nu) + OH(X (2)Sigma (+)) --> N-2(X (1)Sigma (+)) + OH(A (2)Sigm a (+), nu '). We then obtain in the post-discharge the quasi-nascent rotati onal distribution of OH(A (2)Sigma (+), nu = 0) produced by such an energy transfer reaction, showing the probable presence of three main de-excitatio n paths for N-2(A) in the process. Finally, we propose to use the knowledge gained in this study to design a N-2-H2O pulsed RF discharge as a calibrat ed source of OH.