Quenching rates of N2(C,υ′) vibrational states in N2 and He glow silent discharges

The quenching rates of N-2(C,nu') by N-2 and He, k(N2)(C,nu'), and k(He)(C,nu') have been determined for O < nu' less than or equal to 3 in glow silent discharges at atmospheric pressure. First, the characteristic vibrational temperature of the N-2(X,nu) ground state which is close to room temperature in the present low power(similar to 1 W) glow silent discharge has been calculated. Then, starting with the published quenching rates of N-2(C,0), k(N2)(C,0) = 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) and k(He)(C,0) = 10(-12) cm(3) s(-1), the following values have been calculated: k(N2)(C,1) = 3.3(+/-0.4) x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1), k(N2)(C,2) = 6.3(+/-0.8) x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1), k(N2)(C,3) = 8(+/-2) x 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1), k(He)(C,1) +/- k(He)(C,2) = 2(+/-0.3)x10(-12) cm(3) s(-1). Such data are useful in order to detemnne the N-2 vibrational distribution in high-power discharges at atmospheric pressure. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.