Modeling of collision-induced excitation and quenching of atomic nitrogen

Excited atomic nitrogen atoms play an important role in plasma formation in hypersonic shock-waves, as happens during spacecraft reentry and other high velocity vehicle applications. In this study, we have thoroughly studied collision induced excitation associated with two colliding nitrogen atoms in the N(4S), N(2D), and N(2P) states at collision energies up to 6 eV, using time-independent scattering calculations to determine cross sections and temperature-dependent rate coefficients. The calculations are based on potential curves and couplings determined in earlier multireference configuration interaction calculations with large basis sets, and the results are in good agreement with experiments where comparisons are possible. To properly consider the spin–orbit coupling matrix, we have developed a scaling method for treating transitions between different fine-structure components that only require calculations with two coupled states, and with this, we define accurate degeneracy factors for determining cross sections and rate coefficients that include all states. The results indicate that both spin–orbit and derivative coupling effects can play important roles in collisional excitation and quenching, and that although derivative coupling is always much stronger than spin–orbit, there are many transitions where only spin–orbit can contribute. As part of this, we identify two distinct pathways associated with N(2P) relaxation and one Auger-like mechanism leading to two N(2D) that could be important at high temperatures.