THE PROBABLE MECHANISM OF THE NIGHT SKY LUMINESCENCE IN THE CONTINUOUS SPECTRUM

Abstract

In 1951 it was shown that the upper strata of the terrestrial atmosphere are a source not only of monochromatic radiation but also of radiation having a continuous spectrum. The energy distribution in this spectrum was determined from observations, and in the interval 4720-5580 A it was found to have a slight dependence on the wavelength. It was shown that the integrated radiation emitted in this interval varies, on different nights, from 1.2.10 to the 8th power to 6.8.1,000,000 erg/sq cm deg sq; that is, it may on occasion exceed by several times the radiation at lambda 5577. The study illustrates a possible mechanism for the production of this radiation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 23, 1954
Accession Number
AD0682860

Entities

People

  • K. K. Chuvaev
  • S. B. Pikelner

Organizations

  • United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheres
  • Chemical Composition
  • Collisions
  • Continuous Spectra
  • Dissociation
  • Electric Current
  • Electrons
  • Emission
  • Intervals
  • Nitrogen
  • Observation
  • Particles
  • Photochemical Reactions
  • Radiation
  • Relative Motion
  • Spectra

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.