Integral cross sections for the electron-impact excitation of theb1Πu,c31Πu,o31Πu,b′1Σu+,c4′1Σu+,G3Πu, andF3Πustates of N2

Integral cross sections for electron-impact excitation out of the ground-state level $X{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}({v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0)$ to the $b{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{u}$, ${c}_{3}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{u}$, ${o}_{3}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{u}$, ${b}^{\ensuremath{'}}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{u}^{+}$, ${c}_{4}^{\ensuremath{'}}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{1}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{u}^{+}$, $G{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{u}$, and $F{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{u}$ electronic states in N${}_{2}$ are reported at incident energies ranging between 17.5 and 100 eV. We also provide excitation cross sections using emission-based excitation shape functions and optical oscillator strengths. These cross-section results are of great importance to planetary atmospheric modeling of the emissions observed in Earth's atmosphere as well as those of Titan and Triton, the largest moons of Saturn and Neptune, respectively. Critical comparisons of the present cross sections with previous values are presented in an effort to provide improved cross sections for electron excitation of this fundamental molecule's important transitions.