A First-principles Model of Spectrally Resolved 5.3 micrometers Nitric Oxide Emission from Aurorally Dosed Nighttime High-altitude Terrestrial Thermosphere
Abstract
The spectrally resolved nighttime 5.3 mm emission from NO observed by the Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS-1A) experiment aboard space shuttle Discovery at 195 km tangent altitude during a strong auroral event is modeled using a first principles kinetics model. An appropriate SHARC (Strategic High Altitude Radiance Code) Atmospheric Generator (SAG) is dosed with an IBC class III aurora. The spectrally resolved fundamental vibration-rotation band emissions from NO around 5.3 mm resulting from impacts of ambient NO with O as well as reactions of N atoms with O2 are calculated under steady state conditions. The calculated results, using a local translational temperature derived from the observed spectrum, are in excellent agreement with the CIRRIS-1A observations, validating our model. The importance of the accurate nascent vibrational and rotational distribution of chemically produced NO as well as the collisonally induced rotation-to- vibration relaxation of rotationally hot NO is pointed out.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 13, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA633261
Entities
People
- H. Dothe
- J. W. Duff
- Rajesh Sharma
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory