On N2(C3Πu,υ=0) state lifetime and collisional deactivation rate by N2

We have applied optical-optical double resonance laser induced fluorescence (OODR-LIF) to the measurement of N-2(C-3 Pi(u), upsilon = 0) state lifetime and electronic quenching by N-2 in the pressure range from to 10(-2) to 35 Torr. The OODR process starts from the N-2(A3 Sigma(+)(u), upsilon = 0) metastable produced in a small dielectric barrier discharge. The arrangement is free of both resonance trapping and cascade processes. We have found a lifetime of (36.63 +/- 0.29) ns and an electronic quenching rate coefficient that depends on the pressure range, but in a much milder fashion than reported in the literature. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.