Excitation of Nitrogen Triplet States by Electron Impact

Experimental data from several sources concerning the formation of metastable excited nitrogen molecules on electron impact have been examined critically in order to develop an interpretation that is consistent with all available electron impact information. It has been determined that the E³Σ g⁺ excited state at 11.87 eV above the ground state is excited resonantly by electron impact; that the total cross section for formation of this excited state is small relative to cross sections for the a¹Π g and other excited states; and that currently available data do not permit assessment of the relative probability of excitation of the C³Π ᵤ, B³Π g, and A³Σ ᵤ⁺ states.