Second Virial Coefficients of Ground State Nitrogen Atoms

Abstract

Second virial coefficients of ground state nitrogen atoms have been calculated in the temperature range 6000 - 20000 K. The results have been obtained using experimental potentials for the states ¹∑_g ⁺, ³∑_u ^{+ 5}∑_g ⁺ and of the nitrogen molecule and an ab initio Heitler-London potential for the ²∑_u ⁺ repulsive potential. Differences up to a factor of 5 are found between the present second virial coefficients and the corresponding values of Kessel'man et al.