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The photochemical formation of electronically excited oxygen molecules in the atmosphere
Author(s) -
Wayne R. P.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49709339506
Subject(s) - excited state , airglow , photodissociation , atmosphere (unit) , photochemistry , ozone , oxygen , molecule , excitation , chemistry , atomic physics , meteorology , atmospheric sciences , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Spectroscopic studies of the airglow indicate that electronically excited molecular oxygen in the 1 Δ g and 1 Σ g + states is produced in the atmosphere. The way in which the excited states are formed in the atmosphere has been the subject of much speculation, and the present paper attempts to evaluate some of the mechanisms proposed in the light of laboratory experiments. The most probable excitation mechanism for O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) appears to be the primary step in the photolysis of atmospheric ozone: O 3 + hν (λ < 3,100 Å) → O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) + ( 1 D ). O 2 ( 1 Δ g +) may then be formed in the energy‐pooling process: O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) + O 2 ( 1 Δ g ) → O 2 ( 1 Σ g + ) + O 2 ( 1 Σ g − ).