Electron collisions with Ar and N$_2$

Understanding electron collisions with common species such as Ar and N$_2$ is important for diagnosing plasma processes both in the laboratory setting and in the upper atmosphere. Vacuum ultraviolet emissions, such as the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield band of N$_2$, provide important observables, which can be combined with other indicators to infer parameters such as temperature, neutral density, mean electron energy, and electron flux. In this paper, we present a number of revised electron impact excitation cross sections for Ar and N$_2$ based on recent measurements. Comparisons with previous studies and general implications will be discussed.