Rocket measurements of oxygen and nitrogen emissions in the aurora |
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| Authors: | AJ Deans GG Shepherd |
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| Institution: | Centre for Research in Experimental Space Science, York University, Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3 |
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| Abstract: | Altitude distributions of electronically excited atoms and molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the aurora have been obtained by means of rocket-borne wavelength scanning interference filter photometers launched from Fort Churchill, Manitoba (58.4°N, 94.1°W) on January 23, 1974. Atomic oxygen densities derived from mass spectrometer measurements obtained during the flight are used in conjunction with the volume emission rate ratio of the N2(C3Πu?B3Πg) (0-0) second positive and N2(A3Σu+, v = 1?X1Σg+) Vegard-Kaplan bands to derive a rate constant for quenching of the N2(A3Σu+, v = 1) level with O(3P) of 1.7(±0.8) × 10?11 cm3 s?1 These data, together with O den derived from the O2(b1Σg+) state nightglow emission observed during the rocket ascent, suggest that quenching of the N2(A3Σu+, v = 1) level by O2 has a significant positive temperature dependence. The processes involved in the production and loss of the N2(A3Σu+) state are considered and energy transfer from the N2(A3Σu+) state to O(3P) is found to be a significant source of the OI 5577 Å green line in this aurora at altitudes below 130 km. Emission from the NO(A2Σ+?X2Π) gamma bands was not detected, an observation which is consistent with the mass spectrometer data obtained during the flight indicating that the NO density was <108 cm3 at 110 km. On the basis of previous rocket and satellite measurements of the NO gamma bands, energy transfer from the N2(A3Σu+) state to NO(X2Π) is shown to be an insignificant source of the gamma bands in aurora. Altitude profiles of the N2(a1Πg?X1Σg+) Lyman-Birge-Hopfield band system are presented. |
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