DE-EXCITATION OF ELECTRONICALLY EXCITED SODIUM BY NITROGEN AND SOME OTHER DIATOMIC MOLECULES.

Abstract : A semiquantitative calculation was made of the cross sections for the de-excitation of sodium by nitrogen as a function of initial kinetic energy and final vibrational quantum number v(f). The large observed total cross section, which is of gas kinetic order, can be explained by an intermediate ionic state, involving Na(+) and N2(-)(v = v(-)). This state is unstable at infinite separation of the atom and molecule; but, because of the Coulomb attraction, it becomes stable at distances below approximately 3A. As a result of the vibrational structure of N2(-)(v(-)) and of the final state, N2(v(f)), a classical diffusion is considered of the probability amplitudes through a two-dimensional network of potential-energy curves which have the vibrational structure, v(-) and v(f), and the electronic state as parameters. The calculations were made for a variety of incident energies and impact parameters and assumed values of the polarizability of the Na(+) + N2(-) complex. Results are also presented regarding cross sections for the quenching of Na(3 doublet P) by CO and O2 and of Na(4 doublet P) by N2. All the results have the same general character: The total cross sections are of gas kinetic order, and depend only weakly on kinetic energy. (Author)

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