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Vibrational kinetics of NO and N2 in the Earth's middle atmosphere during GLE69 on January 20, 2005
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  • Andrey S. Kirillov,
  • Vladimir B. Belakhovsky,
  • Evgeny A. Maurchev,
  • Yuri V. Balabin,
  • Alexey V. Germanenko,
  • Boris Gvozdevsky
Andrey S. Kirillov
Polar Geophysical Institute

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Vladimir B. Belakhovsky
Polar Geophysical Institute
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Evgeny A. Maurchev
Polar Geophysical Institute
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Yuri V. Balabin
Polar Geophysical Institute
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Alexey V. Germanenko
Polar Geophysical Institute
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Boris Gvozdevsky
Polar Geophysical Institute
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Abstract

The mechanisms of the production of vibrationally excited NO and N2 molecules at the altitudes of the middle atmosphere of the Earth during high-energetic proton precipitation are considered. The study of vibrational populations N2(X1Σg+,v’>0) during high-energetic proton precipitation has shown different principal mechanisms in the N2(X1Σg+,v’>0) excitation. Firstly, the excitation by secondary electrons is principal for vibrational levels v’=1-10. Secondly, it is obtained that intramolecular electron energy transfer process in N2(A3Σu+)+N2 collisions dominates in vibrational excitation of high vibrational levels v’=20-30. It is shown that the chemical reaction of metastable atomic nitrogen with molecular oxygen is the main production mechanism of vibrationally excited NO(X2Π,v>0) and of the radiation of 5.3 μm and 2.7 μm infrared emissions at the altitudes. The role of VV’-processes in the radiation of the 5.3 μm infrared emission is discussed.