The Dissociative Ionization of Nitrogen.

Energy distributions and appearance potentials of N+ ions produced by low-energy electron impact on N2 have been measured. At least five dissociaton limits were detected either directly or by extrapolation of the 1/2 slope straight lines drawn through the kinetic energy versus appearance potential energy diagram. Fine structure observed at low energy has been interpreted by the predissociation of at least two N2+ excited states one of which being the well-known C2Sigmau/+ state. One of the others could be a 2Piu state predissociated to the dissociation limit at 24.34 eV. Close correlation between the results of the present work and the photoelectron spectroscopic observations could be done over the electron energy range between 24.3 eV and 36 eV and assignments are discussed in detail.