title: Infrared electronic emission spectrum of nitrogen.
abstract: The ir emission spectrum of nitrogen from 1 micro to 5 micro wavelength, arising from transitions between excited electronic states of the molecule and the atom, is presented and discussed. This investigation was undertaken to survey the near ir for possible auroral emission features and to extend the electronic emission spectrum of the common atmospheric gases into the ir. This report is concerned primarily with dc discharges in flowing nitrogen at pressures from (1/4) Torr to 10 Torr. Under the conditions of the experiment, most of the molecular radiation is due to transitions between the W(3)Delta(u), B(3)II(g), and A(3)Sigma(u) + states, and eight new bands have been assigned to the W(3)Delta(u) ? B(3)II(g) system. Nineteen atomic emission features are assigned to transitions between known states of NI and three to those of OI. None of these emission lines has been previously reported. The strong impurity emission feature, the 4-5 transition in atomic hydrogen (Brackett alpha), is discussed as a promising channel for studying the galactic center.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Saum
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Benesch