Abstract

Molecular nitrogen ions, ${\text{N}}_{2^{+}}$, are generated by the helium Penning ionization in a glow discharge chamber. In the B-X system of ${\text{N}}_{2^{+}}$ the rotational lines of the most prominent band, 391.44 nm (0,0), are resolved by a 0.5 m-long scanning monochromator. Four vibrational lines of ${\text{N}}_{2^{+}}$ are measured. A rotational temperature of tr = 304.6 K and a vibrational temperature of about 12000 K were measured. To define argon effects on the ${\text{N}}_{2^{+}}$ emission, the 391.44 nm line intensity was analyzed. ${\text{N}}_{2^{+}}$ radiation is reduced to half as argon added up to 50% to N₂. This could be resulted in quenching or/and the charge exchange with either ${\text{N}}_{2^{+}}$ or ${\text{N}}_{2^{+*}}$ by argon.

© 1994 Optical Society of America