Abstract
The experiments pertaining to the excitations of Lyman-α radiation in the night sky are reviewed. Various possible modes of excitation are considered. Scattering of solar Lα in interplanetary hydrogen is not suitable because of an insufficient amount of hydrogen and difficulty in accounting for the large night time albedo contrasted with the small daytime value. Transport by multiple scattering in the exosphere produces an appreciable excitation as well as the correct variation of intensity as function of zenith angle. However, the process fails by a factor of 4 for a solar flux of 6 ergs/cm2 sec and the 3 × 1012 atoms/cm2 geocorona consistent with absorption measurements. A direct scattering in a geocoma far from the earth overcomes the albedo and thin atmosphere problems. However, there is difficulty in accounting for the presence of the amount of hydrogen necessary beyond 15 earth radii. Also the absence of Hα excitation by Lyman-β is a problem. No explanation so far proposed appears adequate. Experiments are suggested.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Byram, E. T., T. A.Chubb, H.Friedman and J. E.Kupperian, Jr., T Threshold of Space, edited by M.Zelikoff. Pergamon Press, London, 1957, 203–209.
Kupperian, J. E., Jr., E. T.Byram, T. A.Chubb and H.Friedman, B Amer. Phys. Soc. Ser II 3, 222, 1958, Ann. Geophys. 14, 329, 1958, Planet. Space Sci. 1, 7, 1959.
Chubb, T. A., Bull. Amer. Phys. Soc. Ser II, 1961.
Friedman, H., IAGA Symposium No. 1, Copenhagen, July 1960, Ann. Géophys. 17, 245, 1961.
Friedman, H., in The Physics of the Upper Atmosphere, edited by J.Ratcliffe, Academic Press, New York and London, 167, 1960.
Chubb, T. A., H. Friedman, R. W. Kreplin and P. Mange, Xth Internat. Astrophysics Symposium, Liège, 1960.
Chubb, T. A., H. Friedman, Private Communication.
Purcell, J. D. and R.Tousey, Space Research, edited by H.Kallmann Bijl, North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, 1960, 590; Journ. Geophys. Res. 65, 370, 1960; Mémoires de la Société Royale des Sciences de Liége 4, 274, 1961.
Struve, O., Sky and Telesc. 17, 445, 1958.
Shklovsky, I. S., Paper presented at V General Assembly CSAGI, Moscow, August, 1958; Planet. Space. Sci. 1, 63, 1959.
Brandt, J. C. and J. W.Chamberlain, Astrophys. Journ. 130, 670, 1959.
Brandt, J. C., Astrophys. Journ. 133, 688, 1961.
Chandrasekhar, S., Radiative Transfer, The Clarendon Press Oxford, 1950.
Bates, D. R. and T. N. L.Patterson, Planet. Space. Sci. 5, 257, 1961; 5, 328, 1961.
Brandt, J. C., Astrophys. Journ. 134, 394, 1961.
Hinteregger, H. E., Astrophys. Journ. 132, 801, 1960.
Chamberlain, J. W., Astrophys. Journ. 131, 47, 1960.
Blackwell, D. E., M. N. 116, 365, 1956; Paper presented at Symposium on Solar Emissions and the Interplanetary Medium, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D. C., April, 1960.
Prokudina, V. S., Spectral, Electrophotometrical and Radar Researches of Aurorae and Airglow, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1959, 43.
Dufay, J., M.Dufay and NguyenHuu-Doan, Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., Paris 253, 974, 1961.
Foderaro, A. and T. M.Donahue, Phys. Rev. 91, 1561, 1953.
Johnson, F. S., and R. A.Fish, Astrophys. Journ. 131, 502, 1960.
Johnson, F. S., Astrophys. Journ. 133, 701, 1961.
Singer, S. F., Planet. Space Sci. 2, 165, 1960.
Bates, D. R. and M.Nicolet, Journ. Geophys. Res. 55, 301, 1950.
Opik, E. J. and S. F.Singer, Phys. Fluids 2, 653, 1959, 3, 486, 1960.
Opik, E. J. and S. F.Singer, Phys. Fluids 4, 221, 1961.
Brandt, J. C. and J. W.Chamberlain, Phys. Fluids 3, 485, 1960.
Mange, P., Paper presented at IAGA Symposium No. 1, Copenhagen, July 1960, Ann. Géophys., 17, 277, 1961.
Thomas, Gary, Ph. D. Thesis, University of Pittsburgh, 1962.
Thomas, G. and T. M. Donahue to be published.
Brandt, J. D., Planet. Space Sci. 9, 67, 1962.
Kreplin, R. W., H.Friedman, T. A.Chubb, and P.Mange, Planet, Space Sci. 9, 68, 1962.
Morton, D. C., and J. D. Purcell, Private Communication
H. S. Bridge, C. Dilworth, A. Lazarus, E. F. Lyon, B. Rossi, and F. Scherb, International Conference on Cosmic Rays and the Earth Storm, Kyoto, Japan, September, 1961 (to be published).
Brandt, J. C., and R. W.Michie, Phys. Rev. Letter 8, 195 (1962).
Stebbings, R. F., A. C. H. Smith and W. L. Fite, Proc. Roy. Soc. (to be published).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Donahue, T.M. Excitation of the Lyman-α in the night sky. Space Sci Rev 1, 135–153 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174639
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174639