Abstract

Measurements of the absorption in compressed nitrogen gas in the spectral region 20–200 cm⁻¹ have been made at temperatures of 200, 293, 320, and 353 K. Values of the electric quadrupole moment Q_N2 of the nitrogen molecules are determined from the results using two different analytical methods, at each of these temperatures, yielding an average value of (1.3 ± 0.2) × 10⁻²⁶ esu cm². The data are then applied in a study of the far-infrared transmission of the upper atmosphere at a mean temperature of 220 K, where it is shown that up to 8% absorption can occur in a vertical path above 12 km, while over a near-horizontal path from this level the absorption can be 40% or greater. Such results are of importance to atmospheric and astronomical measurements in the 100 cm⁻¹ region.

© 1979 Optical Society of America

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