Direct production of excited NF(b 1Σ+) in the system F-F2-NH3 via a supersonic regime

By using a supersonic mixing reaction chamber, the direct production of electronically excited NF(b 1Σ+) becomes feasible in the F-F2-NH3 system, for which a reaction mechanism is proposed. The quenching rate constants of NF(b 1Σ+) by DF and NH3 are calculated as kDF = (5.0 ± 2.2) × 10−13 and kNH3 = (2.8 ± 0.5) × 10−13 cm3/molecules. The maximum population of NF(b 1Σ+) in the supersonic flowfield is estimated to be on the order of 1013 molecules/cm3.