Production of [formula omitted] Vegard–Kaplan and Lyman–Birge–Hopfield emissions on Pluto

Abstract

We have developed a model to calculate the emission intensities of various vibrational transitions of N2 triplet band and Lyman–Birge–Hopfield (LBH) band emissions in the dayglow of Pluto for solar minimum, moderate, and maximum conditions. The calculated overhead intensities of Vegard–Kaplan (A3Σu+–X1Σg+), First Positive (B3Πg–A3Σu+), Second Positive (C3Πu–B3Πg), Wu–Benesch (W3Δu–B3Πg), Reverse First Positive, and LBH (a1Πg–X1Σg+) bands of N2 are 17 (74), 14.8 (64), 2.4 (10.8), 2.9 (12.7), 2.9 (12.5), and 2.3 (10) R, respectively, for solar minimum (maximum) condition. We have predicted the overhead and limb intensities of VK (150–190nm) and LBH (120–190nm) bands of N2 on Pluto for the New Horizons (NH) flyby condition that can be observed by ALICE: the ultraviolet imaging spectrograph also know as P-ALICE. The predicted limb intensities of VK and LBH bands peak at radial distance of ∼2000km with the value of about 5 (13) and 9.5 (22) R for solar zenith angle 60° (0°), respectively. We have also calculated overhead and limb intensities of few prominent transition of CO Fourth Positive bands for NH flyby condition.