Identification of thermospheric dayglow spectrum for the MUSTANG experiment

Abstract

Thermospheric airglow emissions in the wavelength of 1800 A to 3400 A and altitude range of 100 to 300 km were identified. These emissions compose the preliminary data analysis for the Naval Post Graduate School MUSTANG rocket experiment scheduled for launch from White Sands, New Mexico, in February of 1990. Identification of emissions in the wavelength range of the MUSTANG experiment was accomplished using experimental results to support calculated emission intensities. All emission bands that will contribute to the experimental spectra, as well as those features that will be distinguishable, have been tentatively identified. These results confirm the contention that the instrument wavelength range allows observation of the major midultraviolet airglow emissions bands, The extended wavelength and altitude range for this experiment allows a unique experimental opportunity to observe all major neutral atmospheric constituents in one spectrum. The primary emission band systems that will be observed are the N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield bands, the O2 Schumann-Runge bands, the NO Gamma bands, and the O2972A line. Secondary contributions will be observed from the N2 Vegard-Kaplan and 2nd positive bands, the O2 Hersberg bands, and the NO Epsilon and Delta bands. These combined spectra will insure that the MUSTANG experimental goal of measuring N2 and NO densities and determining EUV and photoelectron flexes can be met.