A study of the infrared emission from the O I (3d 3D0) and (4s 5S0) states produced by electron impact excitation of O2
The absolute emission cross section values for the O I(3p 3P-3d 3D0, lambda = 11,287 A) and the (3p 5P-4s 5S0, lambda = 11,299 A) multiplets excited by electron impact on O2 have been measured. These infrared oxygen emission features appear prominently in auroral spectra and were observed in electron bombardment of O2. The former cross section has a value of 3.05 x 10 to the -19th + or - 15 percent at 100 eV, while the latter's value is 4.14 x 10 to the -19th sq cm + or - 15 percent. The quintet emission at lambda = 11,299 A is the only deexcitation channel for the 4s 5S0 state and thus represents the total excitation cross section for that state. However, the lambda = 11,287 A branch from the O I (3d 3D0) state only constitutes about 25 percent of the total 3d 3D0 cross section, with the major branch from this state being the transition to the ground state observed at lambda = 1027 A. The branching ratio is in good agreement with the theoretical calculation of Padhan and Saraph (1977).