Variation of TMA Optical Spectra With Altitude as Observed During the JOULE-2 and HEX-2 Rocket Experiments

During the JOULE-2 and HEX-2 rocket experiments a total of 7 rockets releasing tri-methyl aluminum (TMA) were launched from the Poker Flat Research Range. Four of the TMA trails were observed with a video imaging spectrograph located at Poker Flat: two during the JOULE-2 experiment in the 400 to 650 nm wavelength range, and two during the HEX-2 experiment in the 615 nm to 890 nm wavelength range. The spectrograph has an angular extent of about 10 degrees along the slit and a spectral resolution of 8 nm. The spectra show that the TMA emissions comprise a broadband continuum, with no significant narrowband emission or molecular band structure apparent. When spectra are compared for TMA released at different altitudes, the continuum shows no difference between 400 nm and 600 nm. However, at wavelengths longer than 650 nm, spectra from 100 km altitude show 20 to 40% greater intensity than spectra from 90 km, when normalized at 615 nm. Proposed mechanisms for photon production in TMA generally invoke a catalytic cycle of chemiluminescence reactions between AlO and O, O2, and in some cases OH and H2O. We report the quantitative variation in spectrum with altitude for TMA in these two releases, ongoing work to use (rarely calibrated) literature data on AlO chemiluminescent reactions to determine the most likely mechanism for photon production in TMA releases, and speculate on whether the spectrum of a TMA release can help reveal geophysical information in the upper atmosphere.