All Physics Faculty Publications

An Auroral Enhancement of O2λ1.27-μm Emission

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Planetary and Space Science

Volume

26

Issue

7

Publication Date

7-1978

First Page

619

Last Page

634

Abstract

The ground-level zenith radiance of the atmospheric emission at λ1.27 μm was radiometrically observed to increase by a factor of approximately two with the onset of an IBC III+ auroral breakup above Chatanika, Alaska, on 10 March 1975. Time-resolved optical spectra clearly show that the slow component of the enhancement is associated with the (0,0) band of the infrared atmospheric system of O2. Photometric and incoherent scatter radar data are used to define the energy-deposition profile and the absolute energy flux for the event. The magnitude of the O2λ1.27-μm enhancement compares favourably with the predictions of an auroral excitation model which includes only secondary-electron excitation of molecular oxygen in the O2(a1Δg) source term.

Comments

Originally published by Elsevier in Planetary and Space Science. Publisher’s PDF and HTML fulltext available through remote link. May require subscription if user is not on the USU Network.

https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(78)90096-X

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