Electron Energy Deposition in N₂

A complete numerical study of electron energy loss in a weakly ionized gas of N ₂ has been carried out. We have compiled a set of cross sections for excitation, dissociation and ionization of N ₂ by electron impact and have carried out calculations for the efficiencies of the processes taking into account the discrete nature of the energy loss. Results are presented for the number of excitations of the first six vibrational levels of N ₂ , the major band systems of N ₂ and N ₂ ⁺ and some emissions of atomic nitrogen produced by dissociative excitation. The electron energy range considered is 2-200eV and the range of fractional ionizations is 10 ^-6 to 10 ^-2 . The relevance of this work to aurora and airglow of the terrestrial planets and to the Titan electroglow is discussed.