Rate constants for deactivation of N₂* (A³Σu⁺, nu =0, 1) by H and D atoms

The quenching reactions of metastable nitrogen molecules N 2 *(A 3 Sigma u + , nu =0, 1) with atomic hydrogen and atomic deuterium have been studied in a room-temperature discharge flow system by monitoring the time decay of the 0, 6 and 1, 10 emissions of the Vegard-Kaplan (N 2 *(A 3 Sigma u + ) to N 2 (X 1 Sigma g + )) band. Rate constants, k Q , of (1.3+or-0.4)*10 -10 and (0.90+or-0.12)*10 -10 cm 3 s -1 were measured for Q=H, nu =0, 1 and (1.0+or-0.3)*10 -10 and (0.68+or-0.04)*10 -10 cm 3 s -1 for Q=D, nu =0, 1, with an accuracy of 90%. NO gas was used as a tracer for N 2 *(A 3 ). K Q values of (1.0+or-0.1)*10 -10 cm 3 s -1 for Q=H and (0.94+or-0.14)*10 -10 cm 3 s -1 for Q=D were obtained for the mixture of N 2 *(A 3 , nu =0) and N 2 *(A 3 , nu =1).