Using the concept of the generalized oscillator strength in the Born-Bethe approximation together with semiphenomenological techniques previously developed, we synthesize a diverse body of experimental and theoretical data on molecular hydrogen into sets of analytical electron-impact cross sections. We include in our analysis discrete, vibrational, and dissociative excitations, together with direct and dissociative ionization. Once the important cross sections are known, it is then possible to trace the energy degradation of an incident electron upon molecular hydrogen. We give results for the electron loss function, efficiencies, and eV/ion pair together with comparison to available experimental data.

Motivated by proton auroral studies, we extend the microscopic approach developed for electrons, which is based on detailed collisional cross sections, to deal with the problem of proton energy deposition in N2. Our calculated excitation efficiencies, which include the contributions from charge exchange processes and secondary electrons, remain fairly constant from 1 kev to 10 Mev for the ionization states but vary considerably below 10 kev for excitation states and dissociation processes due to charge exchange effects. The estimates of the Lyman α and Hα photon production are found to be very sensitive to the low‐energy hydrogen impact cross section. The Lyman α and Hα photon production tends to be higher than previous estimates of Eather. Good agreement with the results of Chubb and Hicks is obtained for the Lyman α/Lyman‐Birge‐Hopfield intensity ratio. Total intensities for a typical proton auroral energy of 4 kev and a polar glow aurora of 1 Mev are presented.

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