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Fox & Dalgarno 1985
Fox, J.L. and Dalgarno, A. (1985). The vibrational distribution of N2+ in the terrestrial ionosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 90: doi: 10.1029/JA090iA08p07557. issn: 0148-0227.

The densities and vibrational distributions of N2+ in the X 2&Sgr;g+, A2&Pgr;u, and B2&Sgr;u+ states in the daytime terrestrial ionosphere are computed for both low and high solar activity. Altitude profiles of the relative populations of the vibrational levels of N2+X 2&Sgr;+g are presented. The fraction of vibrationally excited N2+ varies from 5% at 100 km to 50% at 450 km. Several models are examined in which loss of N2+(v) is enhanced for v>0 and in which various assumptions are made about the vibrational distributions produced in charge transfer reactions. The N2+ densities are significantly reduced if N2+(v) reacts with O at rates which are near gas-kinetic. Vibrational distributions of the A2&Pgr;u and B2&Sgr;u+ states are also presented, as well as volume emission rates and integrated overhead intensities of the major bands of the Meinel and first negative systems.

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Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
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American Geophysical Union
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