Relaxation of metastable N2(a1Pig, V'=0-2) in nitrogen afterglow

The relaxation rate of N2(a1 Pi g, v'=0-2) singlet metastable state is observed from the emission of a1 Pi g-X1 Sigma g+ bands in a nitrogen time afterglow. The quenching rates k0=0.91+or-0.05, k1=1.64+or-0.048 and k2=2.12+or-0.055 (*10-11cm3 s-1) and the radiative lifetime tau 0=54.2+or-6.5 mu s, tau 1=55.9+or-6.0 mu s and t2=54.1+or-5.8 mu s are deduced from the linear part of the dependences of the time decay against pressure.