Electron Impact Excitation of Several Rydberg-Valence Series in Molecular Nitrogen.*

Preliminary analysis of recent high-resolution electron impact differential cross-section measurements for e.g. the excitation of the higher-lying b,c and o $^{1}\Pi _{u}$ series of N$_{2}$ are presented. The data are taken at 17.5, 20, 30, 50 and 100eV incident energies and scattering angles from 2 to 130 degrees. These data show clear interference effects in the differential scattering amplitudes (cross-sections) produced by the coupling within these series and are the first time such observations have been observed for electron scattering in N$_{2}$. The results have strong implications for modeling the excitation of these important series in this fundamental gas target, of importance to astrophysical as well as atomic-molecular physics applications.