Energy deposition of protons in molecular nitrogen and applications to proton auroral phenomena

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 28, pp. 6595-6606

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA078i028p06595· OSTI ID:4328884

Edgar, B C; Miles, W T; Green, A E.S.

Motivated by proton auroral studies, the microscopic approach developed for electrons, which is based on detailed collisional cross sections, was extended to deal with the problem of proton energy deposition in N/sub 2/. The calculated excitation efficiencies, which include the contributions from charge exchange processes and secondary electrons, remain fairly constant from 1 keV to 10 MeV for the ionization states but vary considerably below 10 keV for excitation states and dissociation processes due to charge exchange effects. The estimates of the Lyman alpha and H alpha photon production were found to be very sensitive to the lowenergy hydrogen impact cross section. The Lyman alpha and H alpha photon production tended to be higher than previous estimates of Eather. Good agreement with the results of Chubb and Hicks was obtained for the Lyman alpha /Lyman--Birge--Hopfield intensity ratio. Total intensities for a typical proton auroral energy of 4 keV and a polar glow aurora of 1 MeV are presented. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Florida, Gainesville
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-025101
• OSTI ID: 4328884
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 28, pp. 6595-6606, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 28, pp. 6595-6606; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*AURORAE-- LYMAN LINES
*NITROGEN-- PROTON BEAMS
*PROTON BEAMS-- EXCITATION
KEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 01-10
MOLECULES
N58100* --Physics (Atmospheric)--Auroral & Ionospheric Phenomena