Abstract
The progression observed below 1000 Å in spectra of solid N2, pure and trapped in Ne and CF4 matrices at 4.2 K, is ascribed to the valence transition bΠu1XΣg+1 of N2. As previously observed in the similar case of NO, the regularity in intensity distribution and in vibrational spacings indicates the absence of the Rydberg transition cΠu1XΣg+1 responsible for strong perturbations in the free-molecule spectrum.