Forbidden doubly excited states of molecular nitrogen dissociating into two neutral atoms in electron collisions

The ordinary and coincident electron-energy-loss spectra of N 2 have been measured in an expected energy range for the formation of doubly excited states to investigate their formation and decay processes in electron-N 2 collisions. The present results are compared with those obtained by photoexcitation experiments. Existence of the optically forbidden doubly excited states and their dissociative character have been revealed clearly for the first time.