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Collisional removal of O2(b1Σg+, υ = 1) by O2 at thermospheric temperatures
Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, USA
Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, USA
Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, USA
Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, USA
Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, USA
Molecular Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California, USA
Collisional removal of O2(b 1Σ g +, υ = 1) by O2 is investigated at temperatures relevant to the lower thermosphere. A two-laser technique is used, in which the visible output of the first laser directly excites ground-state oxygen molecules to the υ = 1 level of the b 1Σ g + state and the ultraviolet output of the second laser probes the O2(b 1Σ g +, υ = 1) population by resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization via the υ = 4 level of the d 1Π g Rydberg state. The collisional removal rate coefficient increases with temperature by a factor of five in the range 300–1000 K, with a value of about 8 × 10−11 cm3 s−1 near 1000 K. Given the magnitude of the rate coefficient, the removal by O2 plays a dominant role in controlling the population of O2(b 1Σ g +, υ = 1) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at altitudes below 150 km and likely continues to be an important removal pathway at altitudes up to about 200 km.
Received 21 October 2004; accepted 10 January 2005; published 29 March 2005.
Citation: (2005), Collisional removal of O2(b1Σg+, υ = 1) by O2 at thermospheric temperatures, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A03308, doi:10.1029/2004JA010860.
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