Excitation and quenching of ultraviolet nitrogen bands in the mixture of N2 and O2 molecules

Total quenching rate coefficients of three singlet and three triplet states of molecular nitrogen in the collisions with O2 molecules are calculated on the basis of quantum-chemical approximations. The calculated rate coefficients of electronic quenching of N2⁎ molecules are compared with the available experimental data. An influence of collisional processes on vibrational populations of electronically excited N2(a1Πg) and N2(A3Σu+) molecules is studied for conditions of laboratory discharge in N2 and O2 at admixtures of molecular oxygen 0%-20% for the pressures 1-1000 Pa. It is indicated that molecular collisions cause changes in relative populations of vibrational levels of these states and intensity relations of ultraviolet bands of N2 with rise in the pressure and the O2 admixture.

► The quenching rate coefficients of electronically excited N2 are calculated. ► Quantum-chemical approximations are applied in the calculation. ► Electronic kinetics of N2 is studied for conditions of laboratory discharge. ► The influence of molecular collisions on the kinetics is investigated.