Fluorescent vibration-rotation excitation of cometary C2

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167257· OSTI ID:5898826

Gredel, R; Van Dishoeck, E F; Black, J H

The statistical equilibrium equations that determine the population densities of the energy levels in cometary C2 molecules due to fluorescent excitation are examined in detail. The adopted model and molecular parameters are discussed, and a theoretical estimate is made of the two intercombination transition moments. From the theoretical population densities in the various rotational levels, flux ratios and synthetic emission profiles are calculated as functions of the a 3Pi(u) - X 1Sigma(g)+ and the c 3Sigma(u)+ - X 3Sigma(g)+ intercombination transition moments. The influence of each of these two transitions separately on the vibrational and rotational excitation temperatures is investigated. The observed emission spectra of the (0,0) Swan band in Comet Halley are presented and compared to the synthetic profiles. 70 references.

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA (USA); Steward Observatory, Tucson, AZ (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5898826
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Vol. 338
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON
ENERGY LEVELS
HALLEY COMET
EMISSION SPECTRA
COMETS
EXCITATION
FLUORESCENCE
MOLECULES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
LUMINESCENCE
NONMETALS
SPECTRA
640107* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Planetary Phenomena