Reactions of N₂(A³Σ)

N 2 ( A 3 Σ ), the lowest electronically excited state of N 2 , has a long and distinguished history due to its role in nitrogen discharges and the nitrogen afterglow. Recently, the production of N 2 ( A ) via photolysis and chemiluminescent reactions has been newly explored, and new facets of its reactivity have been uncovered. N 2 ( A ) is unusual, in that its deactivation probability in collision with small molecules spans many orders of magnitude, and is frequently strongly dependent on the vibrational content of N 2 ( A ). This behavior and the observed product channels can be understood in terms of a simple model for the energy transfer process. Brief comparison with reactions of related species is made.