A Strong Infrared Radiation from Molecular Nitrogen in the Night Sky.
Abstract
A new infrared radiation has been detected in the night sky, which is far more intense than the ordi- nary persistent aurora giving the green line at 5577 A. Measured with a photocell and filters, the wave length of the new radiation is 10,444) ± 25 A. This night-sky radiation is identified with the (0, 0) band of the first positive group B311 -~ A3~ of N2. The absence of other N2 bands suggests that emission of the (0, 0) band involves conversion of the energy of dissociation D(N2) into excitation in a three-body coffision: N+N+N2-*N2+N~°.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1945
- DOI:
- 10.1086/144687
- Bibcode:
- 1945ApJ...101...39S