NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
The excitation and collisional deactivation of metastable N/2P/ atoms in aurorasThe concentration and altitude distribution of metastable N(2P) atoms was measured in a diffuse IBC II(+) auroral arc. The dominant N(2P) source is shown to be the dissociative excitation of N2 by electron impact with a minor contribution from the dissociative recombination of N2(+) ions. The possibility that an ion-molecule process involving atomic oxygen and vibrationally excited N2(+) ions is a significant N(2P) source is examined. Values for the proportional yield of N(+), N(2P), N(2D), and N(4S) atoms from electron-impact dissociation of N2 under optically thick conditions are given.
Document ID
19800042670
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Zipf, E. C.
(Pittsburgh Univ. Pittsburgh, PA, United States)
Espy, P. J.
(Pittsburgh Univ. Pittsburgh, PA, United States)
Boyle, C. F.
(Pittsburgh, University Pittsburgh, Pa., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 85
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
80A26840
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-39-011-030
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-78-20538
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-6011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available