Excitation of N2and O2by 1/2 and 1 MeV Protons

Spectroscopic observations have been made photographically, over the wavelength range from 3800-8000 Å, upon the luminosity produced by 1/2 and 1 MeV proton beams in N 2 , over the pressure range 63 μ Hg to atmospheric, and in O 2 at atmospheric pressure. The spectra excited in N 2 consisted entirely of bands of the N 2 First Positive (B 3 Π-A 3 Σ) and Second Positive (C 3 Π-B 3 Π) systems, and of the N 2 + First Negative (B 2 Σ-X 2 Σ) system. No atomic lines of HI, NI, or NII were found. In contrast, the spectra excited in O 2 consisted solely of lines of OI and OII. No bands of O 2 or O 2 + were found. The probable excitation mechanisms of these spectral features are discussed.