Excitation of carbon monoxide and nitrogen molecules by electron impact at energies below 16 eV: studies of resonances in the excitation functions of metastable and ultraviolet-emitting levels

Measurements as functions of incident energy within the range 6 to 16 eV have been made of the yields of both metastables and ultraviolet photons following electron impact on carbon monoxide and nitrogen molecules. The energies of resonances in the excitation functions have been obtained from comparison with features of known energies in the noble-gas atoms. The configurations and binding energies of the resonances have been considered in terms of a model in which two Rydberg electrons couple together strongly in the field of the positive ion core.