M.J. Brunger, D.C. Cartwright*, L. Campbell, B. Mojarrabi and P.J.O. Teubner

Department of Physics, The Flinders University of South Australia, Australia
*Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratories, United States of America
phmjb@cc.flinders.edu.au

We present a selection of our results for differential and integral cross section measurements of elastic, rovibrational (0 to 1, 2, 3, 4) and electronic-state excitation in NO by electron impact. The energy range of the present measurements was 7.5 - 50 eV. In general these measurements are often the only available data in the literature. However, where possible we compare the current results with those of other experimental groups and with theoretical calculations .

A subset of these new electron impact cross sections was combined with a measured IBC II auroral secondary electron distribution and the electronic-vibrational populations were determined for conditions of statistical equilibrium. The model of statistical equilibrium determines the density of each excited state from the balance between population by electron impact excitation and radiative cascade, and depopulation by radiative cascade and quenching by N2, O2 and O. Results of this analysis will also be presented at the meeting.