Spectral electron energy map of electron impact induced emission of nitrogen

The processes of electron impact induced fluorescence of nitrogen were studied in the electron energy range from 6 to 100 eV and in the spectral range from 330 to 1030 nm. Using the new CCD camera Spectral Electron Energy Map of N₂ was obtained. This type of data in such a wide spectral and energy range are published for the first time. The most intensive molecular emission bands were neutral nitrogen First positive system N₂ (B ³Π_g⁺ - A ³∑_g⁺) and Second positive system N₂ (C ³Π_u – B ³Π_g), First negative system N₂⁺ (B ²∑_u⁺ - X ²∑_g⁺) and Meinel system N₂⁺ (A ²Π_u – X ²∑_g⁺). The detected lower intensity transitions were Gaydon-Herman singlet system N₂ (¹Σ_u⁺ - a¹Π_g / ¹Π_u⁺ - a¹Π_g) and Gaydon-Green system N₂ (H ³Φ_u – G ³Δ_g). In addition, processes of dissociative excitation and ionization were observed, resulting in the photon emission from the neutral and singly ionised nitrogen atoms. The provided Spectral Electron Energy Map allows extraction of i) electron energy resolved emission spectra of N₂ and determination of the absolute values of excitation-emission cross sections, ii) excitation-emission functions for any of the molecular bands or atomic lines present in the spectra.