Nitric oxide production in collisions of hot O(3P) atoms with N2 -: art. no. 1065

[1] Energetic oxygen atoms play a central role in the heat and energy balance of the terrestrial thermosphere. The reaction between hot O(P-3) atoms and N-2 has been suggested as a source of shuttle glow in low-Earth orbits due to the formation of nitric oxide. We report cross sections and rate coefficients for the production of nitric oxide in the reaction between hot O(P-3) atoms and N-2 and show that vibrational excitation of N-2 significantly enhances the reaction rate coefficients. Results are found to be in agreement with shock-tube experiments as well as with crossed molecular beam data.