Absolute production rates and efficiencies of NO in electron-irradiated N2/O2 mixtures

The production of vibrationally excited NO in electron irradiated N2-trace O2 mixtures has been measured using a calibrated interferometer-based detection system. The time variation of the NO vibrational populations deduced from the fluorescence was used to determine excitation rates into vibrational levels 1–7. One vibrationally excited NO molecule is created per electron–ion pair. The N(2D)+O2 rection has been identified as the formation mechanism. Metastable N-atom formation mechanisms in these mixtures are discussed. Approximately 2+0.8%−0.5% of the deposited beam energy appears as NO vibrational energy.