Open AccessObservation of sprite streamer head's spectra at 10,000 fps
Author(s) -
Kanmae Takeshi,
StenbaekNielsen Hans C.,
McHarg Matthew G.,
Haaland Ryan K.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2009ja014546
Subject(s) - sprite (computer graphics) , spectrograph , spectral line , kinetic energy , airglow , emission spectrum , physics , line of sight , optics , astrophysics , astronomy , quantum mechanics , computer science , computer vision
Spatially and temporally resolved sprite streamer head spectra were observed for the first time using a slitless spectrograph at 10,000 fps. The spectra consist of the N 2 first positive (1PG) emission. Blue emissions, including the N 2 second positive (2PG) and the N 2 + first negative (1NG) emissions, were not observed presumably due to atmospheric attenuation along a long line of sight. The rotational temperature derived from the spectra indicates a kinetic temperature of 200–300 K with an upper limit of 400 K. Using a simple kinetic model, we estimate the peak electric field in the streamer head to be larger than 1–2 E k .