On the difficulty of N(S-4) atom recombination to explain the appearance of the pink afterglow in a N-2 flowing discharge

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Loureiro, J (Author) Other; P. A . Sá (Author) FEUP; Guerra, V (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics

Vol. 39 No. 1

Pages: 122-125

ISSN: 0022-3727

Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 21 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-NQC

DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/39/1/019

Abstract (EN): The possibility that the pink afterglow (PA) of a flowing nitrogen discharge occurs as a result of recombination of N(S-4) atoms is evaluated and discussed, based on a detailed kinetic model for a microwave discharge and post-discharge. The present simulation shows that the N-2(+)(B(2)Sigma(u)(+), u) states responsible for the emission of the PA cannot be created via an indirect mechanism initiated with atomic recombination. Alternatively, it is indicated that the PA may have its origin in non-resonant vibration-vibration energy-exchange processes between N-2(X (1)Sigma(g)(+), v) molecules, which lead to an overpopulation of high levels of the vibrational manifold.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4