Determination of the population of vibrational levels of the ground state of the N2 molecule and the gas temperature in a gas discharge by a spectroscopic method

Results on the determination of the population of vibrational levels of the ground electronic state of the N2 molecule and the gas temperature Tg in a gas discharge, using a relatively simple spectroscopic method, are presented. This method can be used for determining Tg not only in pure N2, but in gas mixtures containing N2 as well. Vibrational temperatures and populations of vibrational levels of the ground X1Σg+ and the nonequilibrium C3 product u states of the nitrogen molecule are determined. The relation between vibrational temperatures TC and TX of the states C3 product u and X1Σg+, respectively, is obtained. 9 refs., 6 figs