This is a project to perform laboratory measurements and modeling to determine the predissociation rate of the c'(0)-x(0) transition in molecular nitrogen. The results will be used with a model to determine the temperature dependence of absorption oscillator strength, A-factors for radiative branching into the vibrational levels of ground state molecular nitrogen, and fractional predissociation. These data will facilitate an unambiguous identification of the rotationally resolved emission spectra of nitrogen and provide a basis for calculating, comparing and analyzing the absolute photoexcitation, photodissociation, electron impact excitation, and electron impact dissociation cross sections of nitrogen. This information will be useful in the interpretation of spectroscopic measurements of the upper atmosphere.
