Nightglow vibrational distributions in the A<sup>3</sup>&Sigma;<sub>u</sub><sup>+</sup> and A'<sup>3</sup>&Delta;<sub>u</sub> states of O<sub>2</sub> derived from astronomical sky spectra

oleh: T. G. Slanger, P. C. Cosby, D. L. Huestis, A. M. Widhalm

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Copernicus Publications 2004-09-01

Deskripsi

Astronomical sky spectra from the Keck I telescope on Mauna Kea have been used to obtain vibrational distributions in the O<sub>2</sub>A<sup>3</sup>&Sigma;<sub>u</sub><sup>+</sup>) and O<sub>2</sub>(A'<sup>3</sup>&Delta;<sub>u</sub>) states from rotationally-resolved Herzberg I and Chamberlain band emissions in the terrestrial nightglow. The A<sup>3</sup>&Sigma;<sub>u</sub><sup>+</sup> distribution is similar to that presented in earlier publications, with the exception that there is significant population in the previously undiscerned v=0 level. The vibrational distributions of the A'<sup>3</sup>&Delta;<sub>u</sub> and A<sup>3</sup>&Sigma;<sub>u</sub><sup>+</sup> states are essentially the same when comparison is made in terms of the level energies. The intensity of Chamberlain band emission at the peak of the distribution is about one-fourth that of the Herzberg I emission, as previously shown, and may be related primarily to radiative efficiency. The peaks in both population distributions are about 0.25eV below the O(<sup>3</sup>P)+O(<sup>3</sup>P) dissociation limit. We compare these Herzberg state distributions with that of the O<sub>2</sub>(b<sup>1</sup>&Sigma;<sub>g</sub><sup>+</sup>) state, concurring with others that the intense nightglow emission associated with b<sup>1</sup>&Sigma;<sub>g</sub><sup>+</sup>(v=0) is a reflection of direct transfer from the Herzberg states. This process takes place following O<sub>2</sub> collisions, with simultaneous production of very high a<sup>1</sup>&Delta;<sub>g</sub> and b<sup>1</sup>&Sigma;<sub>g</sub><sup>+</sup> vibrational levels.