  Resonant vibrational excitation cross sections and the corresponding rate
coefficients for electron-N$_2$ collisions occurring through the
N$_2^-(\textrm{X}\ ^2\Pi_g)$ resonant state are reviewed. New calculations are
performed using accurate potential energies curves for the N$_2$ electronic
ground state, taken from literature, and for the N$_2^-$ resonant state,
obtained from $R$-matrix calculations. The calculations are extended also to
the resonant excitation processes involving the N$_2$ ground state vibrational
continuum, leading to dissociation. Electron impact dissociation is found to be
significant from higher vibrational levels. Accurate analytical fits for the
complete set of the rate coefficients are provided. The behavior of the
dissociative cross sections is investigated for rotationally excited N$_2$
molecules, with $J=50,100$ and 150 and for different vibrational levels.

Plasma Physics;Chemical Physics