Abstract
RECENT publications concerning the identification of the 4S—2P forbidden transition of N I in the spectra of the aurora and the night sky require a revision of previously published results. Actually, R. Bernard1 has shown that the wave-length of the auroral radiation considered is undoubtedly 3466.5 ± 1 A., instead of 3470 A. On the other hand, laboratory2 and theoretical3 determinations give respectively λ 3466.3 and 3466.5 A. Owing to this fair agreement in wave-length, the attribution of the auroral radiation to the forbidden transition of N I may be accepted fairly safely, whereas this identification is not yet acceptable in the night sky spectrum (owing to unduly high δλ).
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References
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NICOLET, M. Mechanism of Excitation of the Forbidden Lines of Oxygen and Nitrogen in the Spectra of the Aurora and the Night Sky. Nature 143, 639 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/143639a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/143639a0
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