Electron excitation and energy transfer rates for H2O in the upper atmosphere

Abstract

Recent measurements of the cross sections for electronic state excitations in H2O have made it possible to calculate rates applicable to these excitation processes. We thus present here calculations of electron energy transfer rates for electronic and vibrational state excitations in H 2O, as well as rates for excitation of some of these states by atmospheric thermal and auroral secondary electrons. The calculation of these latter rates is an important first step towards our aim of including water into a statistical equilibrium model of the atmosphere under auroral conditions.