Observation of the O I ultraviolet intercombination emissions in the terrestrial dayglow

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA01p00239· OSTI ID:5875624

Bowers, C W; Feldman, P D; Tennyson, P D; Kane, M ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)

Spectroscopic observations have been made of the terrestrial ultraviolet dayglow (850-1,850 {angstrom}) using newly developed instrumentation in a sounding rocket payload. The atmospheric conditions and viewing geometry were such as to suppress nitrogen emissions relative to those from atomic oxygen. This permitted the identification and measurement of the weak O I 1,173-{angstrom} (3s{prime} {sup 3}D{sup 0} - 2p{sup 4} {sup 1}D) intercombination multiplet and the 1,641-{angstrom} (3s {sup 3}S{sup 0} - 2p{sup 4} {sup 1}D) line as well as the strong 989-{angstrom} and 1,304-{angstrom} emissions. The 1,173-{angstrom} emission rate increase at lower altitudes, while the 989-{angstrom} emission, from the same upper level, decreased at lower altitudes. This behavior is consistent with the radiative entrapment model of Meier (1982) and the laboratory value of the 1,173-{angstrom}/989-{angstrom} branching ratio of 1.5 {times} 10{sup {minus}4} (Morrison, 1985). The 1,641-{angstrom}/1,304-{angstrom} emission ratio is also consistent with a radiative entrapment model and a branching ratio near 5.0 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}. Lack of detection of the 1,484-{angstrom} (3s{prime} {sup 3}D{sub 1}{sup 0} - 2p{sup 4} {sup 1}S{sub 0}) intercombination line allows an upper limit to be placed on the 1,484-{angstrom} branching ratio, confirming that emission in this line is less significant in depleting the 3s{prime} {sup 3}D{sup 0} term than is 1,173-{angstrom} emission.

• OSTI ID: 5875624
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 92:A1; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
ION DENSITY
LEVELS
LIMITING VALUES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
ROCKETS
SPECTRA
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA