Studies of energy transfer processes in triplet states of N2. I. Energy pooling by vibrationally selected N2 (A 3Σ+u,v) molecules

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Abstract
Emissions from the second positive (C–B) and from the Herman infrared (HIR) systems of N2, generated by the N2 (A,v)+N2(A,v′) energy pooling (EP) reaction, were studied at room temperature in a flowing afterglow apparatus. Using ‘‘vibrational quenchers’’ of N2 (A,v), the emission resulting from the EP reaction of 2N2(A,v=0) was compared to that of 2N2 (A,v=0,1,2). The dependence of the vibrational distribution of both the N2 (C,v) and the upper N2(HIR,v) states on that of N2(A,v) was accurately measured and analyzed. It is shown that Franck–Condon factors and energy matches for the EP reactions can account for this dependence. The spectroscopic and kinetic data suggests that the EP reaction is governed by long range interaction which involves direct excitation transfer. It also suggests that the HIR system may originate from transitions from the unobserved 3∏u(II) state to G 3Δg.