Excitation of Group Ia and IIb metal atoms by a Lewis-Rayleigh nitrogen afterglow

Relative atomic line intensities have been measured for Group Ia and IIb atoms excited by a Lewis-Rayleigh nitrogen afterglow. From the measured linewidth and lack of pressure dependence of the intensity distributions for Group Ia atoms, it is proposed that the exciting species in the afterglow is N2(A 3Σu+). Pressure dependence of Group IIb atomic line intensities is observed and possible excitation mechanisms and quenching effects are discussed.