BASIC PROCESSES AND CROSS SECTIONS IN PROTON AURORAS.
Abstract
A proton aurora is a weak, diffuse emission readily identified by Doppler-shifted hydrogen lines in its spectrum. It is caused by precipitation of protons with a broad energy distribution that peaks near 1 ke V. For theoretical analysis of this aurora, cross sections for ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents by energetic protons and hydrogen atoms are needed over a wide energy range. Recent measurements of these cross sections are reviewed in this paper, and preliminary results from this laboratory for excitation of some of the hydrogen emissions are reported. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 08, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0713691
Entities
People
- John H. Birely
- Robert J. McNeal
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation