The reaction of N(²D) with O₂ as a source of O (¹D) atoms in aurorae

Abstract

We have investigated the source of O(¹D) atoms in the auroral ionosphere using sounding rocket data. Previously, it has been shown that the conventional sources of O(¹D) atoms in the aurora, dissociative recombination of O 2 + and electron impact excitation of atomic oxygen, fail to explain the measured 6300Å volume emission rate profile. We suggest that the atom‐atom interchange reaction of N(²D) with O 2 can be the major source of auroral 6300Å emission if O(¹D) is created with high efficiency.