The Kinetics of N 2 Triplet Electronic States in the Upper and Middle Atmosphere During Relativistic Electron Precipitation

The electronic kinetics of N 2 triplet states A 3 Σ u + , B 3 Π g , W 3 Δ u , B' 3 Σ u − , and C 3 Π u in the upper and middle atmosphere of the Earth during relativistic electron precipitation is considered. Intramolecular and intermolecular electron energy transfers in inelastic collisions of electronically excited molecular nitrogen with N 2 and O 2 molecules are taken into account in the calculations. The calculations indicate an influence of atmospheric density increase on the calculated vibrational populations of the B 3 Π g state. For the first time it is shown that there is a dependence of the calculated column intensity ratios of first and second positive bands on the energy of relativistic electrons. The calculated column intensity ratios I (749 nm)/ I (337 nm) and I (669 nm)/ I (337 nm) decrease with increasing relativistic electron energy.