Decay kinetics of N(2p or 2D)+N2(X1Σg+,υ") in low temperature solid nitrogen

Under the irradiation of free-standing nitrogen crystal at low temperature with focused KrF excimer laser light, the system of N(P-2 or D-2) + N-2(X(1)Sigma(8)(+), upsilon ") has been prepared through the energy transfer between N(S-4) and N-2(A(3)Sigma(u)(+)). The decay processes have been monitored by observing alpha " emission which corresponds to the transition N(D-2) + N-2(X, upsilon ") --> N(S-4) + N-2(X, upsilon " - 1) and delta " emission which corresponds to the transition N(P-2) + N-2(X, upsilon ") --> N(D-2) + N-2(X, upsilon " - 1). The observed lifetimes for the alpha " emissions for individual upsilon " are on the order of several seconds, and those for the delta " emissions, on the order of several milliseconds. It is concluded that the alpha " transitions are affected by the multiphonon assisted V-V (vibration to vibration) relaxation, and the delta " transitions are mostly radiatively controlled.