LAUSR

Abstract The simulation of N2(A3Σu+) and CO(a3Π) vibrational populations at the altitudes of Titan’s upper atmosphere and for conditions of a laboratory discharge in the N2-CO mixture is made. The influence of metastable molecular nitrogen N2(A3Σu+) on the electronic excitation of CO molecules in inelastic collisions is studied. It is shown that the increase in the density of the Titan’s atmosphere and of the discharge mixture leads to more significant excitation of lowest vibrational levels of CO(a3Π) by intermolecular electron energy transfers from N2(A3Σu+) in comparison with direct excitation of the a3Π state by free electrons.