Excitation of Nitrogen Molecule by the Impact of 80-160 kev Proton

Abstract

Light emission from nitrogen molecules excited by the impact of 80-160 kev protons was studied over a wave length ranging from 3300 to 5400 Å. The lateral distributions of the light intensities were also measured. From the target gas pressure dependence of the light intensities and their lateral distributions, it was shown that the state B²Σ⁺ᴜ of N⁺₂ was excited by a direct proton collision, and that the state C³IIᵤ of N₂, having a singlet-triplet mixing, was excited by secondary processes.