Abstract

A new method for producing the auroral afterglow has been devised. No pre-operation of the afterglow tube is required and the afterglow is much stronger than that produced by Kaplan’s method.

The spectrum of the auroral afterglow is analyzed. In the first-positive system, the vibrational levels of the upper state were extended to v = 26 and for the lower state to v = 20. In the second-positive system, new bands were observed which have been tentatively ascribed to a transition from v′ = 5. It was determined that the Goldstein-Kaplan bands belong to a single system, the ³Π − B³Π_g. Three heads were measured for each band of the G-K system. The Vegard-Kaplan bands and the first-negative system were also observed and are reported on.

The lifetime of the auroral afterglow and the excitation processes for the afterglow are discussed.

© 1961 Optical Society of America

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