Angular distributions of Auger transitions of N₂ to dissociative final states

The angular distribution of the 360.2-eV Auger transition in N₂, which is attributed to an N₂²⁺¹∏_g final state, is measured and calculated. Calculations predict a sharper distribution than what is measured. The angular distribution of the 363.5-eV Auger transition, attributed to an N₂²⁺¹∏_u final state, is nearly isotropic in the laboratory frame. This is believed to be caused by metastable vibrational levels of the final state. The final state of the 358.7-eV transition was found to be nondissociative, and its angular distribution could not be measured by our experimental technique. The peak in the N⁺ fragment-ion spectrum at about 3.9 eV is assigned to the ³∑_g^- dissociative state of N₂²⁺.