Model of infrared emission from sprites

A model of the 4.26 mu m infrared emission due to red sprites is presented. The model considers the generation of nitrogen 'vibrons' due to the collisions of the nitrogen molecules with the electrons energized by the electric field from lightning, followed by the transition of the nitrogen vibrons to the CO2(001) vibrational level, with a lifetime much shorter than that of nitrogen. The infrared photons of wavelength lambda = 4.26 mu m radiated by the CO2(001) propagate through the optically thick atmosphere; therefore, this emission could best be observed from space. The model computes the infrared radiance of sprites, as well as the energy collected by a state-of-the-art space infrared detector, and estimates the signal to background ratio. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.