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The extreme ultraviolet (750‐1230 A) spectrum of an aurora
Author(s) -
Park H.,
Feldman P. D.,
Fastie W. G.
Publication year - 1977
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/gl004i001p00041
Subject(s) - extreme ultraviolet , zenith , ultraviolet , airglow , spectral line , wavelength , spectrometer , emission spectrum , radiation , electron precipitation , physics , materials science , atomic physics , atmospheric sciences , optics , astronomy , plasma , magnetosphere , laser , quantum mechanics
Extreme ultraviolet auroral spectra have been obtained in the wavelength range of 750‐1230 A resolution with a rocket‐borne grating spectrometer. Atomic emissions of NI, NII, OI and OII are the dominant features along with geocoronal HI Lyman α. N 2 emission bands, which appear strongly in laboratory electron impact spectra, appear only as a modest background continuum between 900 to 1100 A. The observed intensities are consistent with electron impact excitation of O and N 2 . For optically thick emissions, such as NI λ1200, radiation transport along the arc results in an intensity enhancement when viewed through the arc towards the zenith.