Abstract
view Abstract Citations (41) References Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Excitation of Hydrogen in Aurorae. Chamberlain, Joseph W. Abstract The Balmer emission produced when protons penetrate the atmosphere during an aurora is investigated by the method of statistical equilibrium. The Ha luminosity versus height is computed for several incident proton energies and is compared with computations for the luminosity distribution in other emissions. It is found that each incident proton should produce a total of about 50 quanta of Ha, which leads to a rough estimate for the proton flux of about 6 X 1O during the arc stage of a moderately strong aurora. The Balmer decrement is computed, and the theoretical Ha proffle for an arc in the magnetic zenith is compared with Meinel's observed proffle. This comparison suggests that the incident protons undergo considerable scattering, which produces a rather large effect on the observed proffle and the luminosity distribution. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: September 1954 DOI: 10.1086/145923 Bibcode: 1954ApJ...120..360C full text sources ADS |
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