Reaction of N₂(a³∑u⁺) With Atomic Nitrogen

Attempts to measure the actual lifetime of N 2 (A 3 ∑u + ) in active nitrogen resulted only in a very small upper limit of ≈5 × 10 −4 s. This result is consistent with quenching of the A 3 ∑ u + state by atomic nitrogen in an atom–atom interchange process,[Formula: see text]having a rate coefficient of [Formula: see text] It is suggested that similar processes are involved in determining the distribution of excited states observed in atom association.