Time and space resolved analysis of N2(C 3Πu) vibrational distributions in pulsed positive corona discharge

Time- and space-resolved emission spectroscopy was applied to study the N 2 (C 3 Π u →B 3 Π g ) and NO(A 2 Σ + →X 2 Π r ) emission induced by pulsed positive primary streamers in coaxial geometry generated in high-purity nitrogen. To the best of our knowledge, first complete vibrational distributions of the N 2 (C 3 Π u ) electronic state were obtained under pulsed positive streamer discharge conditions in high-pressure nitrogen. On the basis of kinetic modelling we have obtained quenching rate constants for v = 1-4 vibrational levels of N 2 (C 3 Π u ) state by N 2 : k Q ( v = 1) = (2.9±0.4) × 10 -11 cm 3 s -1 , k Q ( v = 2) = (4.3±0.6) × 10 -11 cm 3 s -1 , k Q ( v = 3) = (4.8±0.8) × 10 -11 cm 3 s -1 , k Q ( v = 4) = (4.9±0.9) × 10 -11 cm 3 s -1 .