Radiative lifetimes for the X 1Σ+ state of NO+

✍ Scribed by Harry Partridge; Stephen R. Langhoff; Charles W. Bauschlicher Jr.

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 329 KB
• Volume: 170
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2614
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2614(90)87081-2

✦ Synopsis

Calculations using large atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis sets and high levels of correlation treatment are employed to determine the radiative lifetime for the t= I-5 levels of the X 'Z+ state ofNO+. The theoretical lifetimes, which agree well with prewous theoretical estimates, are estimated to be accurate to 5%. These results strongly suggest that the recently measured radiative lifetimes for the u=2 and 3 levels are in error. Vibrationally excited NO+ ions are produced in the upper ionosphere by the ion-molecule reaction [II 0+(4S)+N2(X 'Eg+, vl) +NO+(X Ix+, r~r)fN(~S). Determining the internal energy distribution in the NO + ions requires knowledge of the transition probability coefficients for spontaneous emission, which in turn requires an accurate dipole moment function (DMF) for the X 'EC state of NO+. Knowledge of the internal energy distribution in NO+ may be important for modelling the flow field around reentry vehicles such as the aerospace transfer vehicle.