The Kinetics of N2 Triplet Electronic States in the Upper and Middle Atmosphere During Relativistic Electron Precipitation

The electronic kinetics of N2 triplet states A3Σu+, B3Πg, W3Δu, B'3Σu−, and C3Πu in the upper and middle atmosphere of the Earth during relativistic electron precipitation is considered. Intramolecular and intermolecular electron energy transfers in inelastic collisions of electronically excited molecular nitrogen with N2 and O2 molecules are taken into account in the calculations. The calculations indicate an influence of atmospheric density increase on the calculated vibrational populations of the B3Πg state. For the first time it is shown that there is a dependence of the calculated column intensity ratios of first and second positive bands on the energy of relativistic electrons. The calculated column intensity ratios I(749 nm)/I(337 nm) and I(669 nm)/I(337 nm) decrease with increasing relativistic electron energy.