Abstract
THE volume production rate of N2(A3Σu+) in the aurora, as estimated from the observed emission rates in the N2 first positive and second positive systems1, is an order of magnitude greater than the observed emission rate2 in the Vergard-Kaplan system3 (A3σu+ − X1σg+). This implies a high rate of quenching by other species present in the auroral region. The most prominent species at the appropriate altitudes (>100 km) are N2, O2, N, O and NO (ref. 4). Detailed analysis of the quenching rate has led to the prediction that collision with O atoms makes a major contribution to the quenching process. However such quenching in the aurora would have to proceed1 with an efficiency one or two orders of magnitude greater than observed in the laboratory5,6 in order to account for the observed V-K intensities.
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MALCOLME-LAWES, D. New route for the quenching of N2(A3Σu+) in the aurora?. Nature 247, 540–541 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/247540a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/247540a0
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