The use of N2 molecules for detection of rare gas metastables in swarm experiments

A method of concentration measurements of rare gas metastables in weakly ionized gases is proposed and elaborated. Transfer of the excitation energy to N2 molecules is used to evaluate excitation coefficients. A stationary non-self sustained discharge is produced in a uniform electron field in mixtures Ar-N2, Ne-N2 and He-N2 with c = 1% N2, where an electron swarm is formed and the subsequent N2 radiation is measured absolutely. Excitation coefficients of Arsup(m) (43P2 + 43P0), Nesup(m) (33P2 + 33P0), Hesup(m) (23S1 + 23S0) are obtained and compared to theoretical calculations. (G.Q.)