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Detailed Reference Information |
Campbell, L., Brunger, M.J., Petrovic, Z.L., Jelisavcic, M., Panajotovic, R. and Buckman, S.J. (2004). Infrared Auroral Emissions Driven by Resonant Electron Impact Excitation of NO Molecules. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2003GL019151. issn: 0094-8276. |
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Although only a minor constituent of the earth's upper atmosphere, nitric oxide (NO) plays a major role in infrared auroral emissions due to radiation from vibrationally excited (NO*) states. The main process leading to the production of these excited molecules was thought to be chemiluminescence, whereby excited nitrogen atoms interact with oxygen molecules to form vibrationally excited nitric oxide (NO*) and atomic oxygen. Here we show evidence that a different production mechanism for NO*, due to low energy electron impact excitation of NO molecules, is responsible for more than 30% of the NO auroral emission near 5 ¿m. |
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Abstract |
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Keywords
Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Airglow and aurora, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Thermosphere—energy deposition, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Transmission and scattering of radiation |
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Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
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