Modeling and analysis of N2(B3Πg) and N2(C3Πu) vibrational distributions in sprites

Abstract

We analyze and model available data of N2(B3Π g) vibrational distribution functions (VDF) in sprites, and we present model predictions for the VDF of N2(C3Π u). By means of a full kinetic model and a simplified steady state model presented here, we investigate sprites at altitudes of 52 km up to 85 km, observed with temporal resolutions from 33 ms to 50 μs. At all altitudes, the predictions of the models agree with available observations of the VDF of N2(B3Πg). We find that the VDF of N 2(B3Πg) and N2(C 3Πu) depend very weakly on the driving electric field. In addition, we find that while the N2(B3Πg) VDF is barely affected by changes in the temporal resolution, the VDF of N 2(C3Πu) is not affected at all. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.