Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 An overview
- 2 The interaction of energetic solar photons with the upper atmosphere
- 3 The interaction of energetic electrons and ions with the upper atmosphere
- 4 Collisions and reactions
- 5 Ion and neutral composition of the upper atmosphere
- 6 Temperatures in the upper atmosphere
- 7 Spectroscopic emissions
- 8 Dynamics of the thermosphere and ionosphere
- Appendices
- 1 The neutral atmosphere
- 2 The solar irradiance and photon cross sections
- 3 Energy level diagrams and potential curves
- 4 Cross sections for collisions between energetic electrons, protons and atoms and the major atmospheric gases
- 5 Chemical/ionic reactions in the thermosphere
- 6 Transport coefficients, polarizability, collision frequencies, and energy transfer rates
- 7 Physical constants and units
- Index
3 - Energy level diagrams and potential curves
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 April 2011
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 An overview
- 2 The interaction of energetic solar photons with the upper atmosphere
- 3 The interaction of energetic electrons and ions with the upper atmosphere
- 4 Collisions and reactions
- 5 Ion and neutral composition of the upper atmosphere
- 6 Temperatures in the upper atmosphere
- 7 Spectroscopic emissions
- 8 Dynamics of the thermosphere and ionosphere
- Appendices
- 1 The neutral atmosphere
- 2 The solar irradiance and photon cross sections
- 3 Energy level diagrams and potential curves
- 4 Cross sections for collisions between energetic electrons, protons and atoms and the major atmospheric gases
- 5 Chemical/ionic reactions in the thermosphere
- 6 Transport coefficients, polarizability, collision frequencies, and energy transfer rates
- 7 Physical constants and units
- Index
Summary
Partial energy level diagrams of OI, OII, NI and NII are presented and the transitions leading to emissions that have, so far, been identified with reasonable certainty in the airglow and aurora are indicated by their wavelength (only one wavelength is shown for a multiplet). Inconclusive identifications are excluded, even though some may appear in the spectra reproduced from the research literature and shown in Chapter 7.
For the molecular species N2, O2, NO and their ions, fairly complete potential curves are given.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Physics and Chemistry of the Upper Atmosphere , pp. 264 - 270Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989