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.