Premium
Observation of high‐ N hydroxyl pure rotation lines in atmospheric emission spectra by the CIRRIS 1A Space Shuttle Experiment
Author(s) -
Smith D. R.,
Blumberg W. A. M.,
Nadile R. M.,
Lipson S. J.,
Huppi E. R.,
Wheeler N. B.,
Dodd J. A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/92gl00396
Subject(s) - excited state , airglow , emission spectrum , spectral line , rotation (mathematics) , atomic physics , rotational temperature , physics , line (geometry) , optics , astronomy , geometry , mathematics
Pure rotation line emissions from highly rotationally excited OH have been observed between 80 and 110 km tangent height under both nighttime and daytime quiescent conditions. Data were obtained using the cryogenic CIRRIS 1A interferometer, operated on the Space Shuttle. Transitions from OH(v=0–2, N ′≤33) were identified between 400 and 1000 cm −1 , corresponding to states with energies as high as 23000 cm −1 . These are the first definitive observations of OH pure rotation transitions in the air glow, and by far the highest N levels observed in any type of OH airglow emission spectrum. The present observations of highly excited rotational states of OH parallel those made during recent field studies of NO and laboratory studies of OH, NO, and CO.