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- Title
Associative Electron Detachment in Sprites.
- Authors
Malagón‐Romero, A.; Luque, A.; Shuman, Nicholas S.; Miller, Thomas M.; Ard, Shaun G.; Viggiano, Albert A.
- Abstract
The balance of processes affecting electron density drives the dynamics of upper‐atmospheric electrical events, such as sprites. We examine the detachment of electrons from negatively charged atomic oxygen (O−) via collisions with neutral molecular nitrogen (N2) leading to the formation of nitrous oxide (N2O). Past research posited that this process, even without significant vibrational excitation of N2, strongly impacts the dynamics of sprites. We introduce updated rate coefficients derived from recent experimental measurements which suggest a negligible influence of this reaction on sprite dynamics. Given that previous rates were incompatible with the observed decay of the light emissions from sprite glows, our findings support that glows actually result from electron depletion in sprite columns. Plain Language Summary: Sprites are transient, filamentary luminous structures appearing between approximately 50 and 85 km above Earth's surface. While the primary sprite activity is ephemeral, lasting mere thousandths of a second, certain luminous features persist up to a hundred times longer. The key to understanding these enduring structures lies in the evolution of free electron populations that facilitate electrical conductivity. Here we show that a process that influences this population is slower than previously thought. This may explain why luminous structures can persist for so long. Key Points: Associative detachment of electrons in sprites proceeds almost exclusively from vibrationally excited N2We provide updated rate coefficients for electron associative detachmentIn models with the updated rates, sprite glows persist tens of milliseconds, in agreement with observations
- Subjects
SURFACE of the earth; ELECTRONS; ATOMIC charges; ELECTRON density; OXYGEN
- Publication
Geophysical Research Letters, 2024, Vol 51, Issue 11, p1
- ISSN
0094-8276
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2023GL107990