Role of Molecular Nitrogen Column Density in Controlling the Intensity of Spectral Emission in Day-glow due to Photoelectronic Impact

Abstract

Intensity-height profiles for a number of day-glow spectral emissions of molecular nitrogen arising from the impact of photoelectrons produced in the photoionization of the various atmospheric species due to solar ultraviolet radiations have been theoretically calculated using the column number density instead of mere number densities. The results show that the maximum intensity for a particular emission would be observed at a particular height in agreement with the rocket measured data. The intensity-height profiles have been computed under different conditions of solar activity for some molecular nitrogen emissions expected to be observed in day-glow. The results of the present study are discussed in the light of earlier experimental results.