Excitation of the C³Piustate of N₂by electron impact in the near-threshold region

The total cross section for excitation of the nu '=0, 1, 2 vibrational levels and the total electronic cross section of the C 3 Pi u state of nitrogen have been determined for incident electron energies from threshold at 11.03 eV to 17.5 eV. The emission cross section of the (0,0) line (337 nm) of the second positive band of nitrogen has been also obtained in this energy region. Strong non-Franck-Condon excitation of vibrational levels has been observed. The present data are compared with previous experimental and theoretical results.