O(1S) AND O(1D) QUANTUM YIELDS FROM ROCKET MEASUREMENTS OF ELECTRON-DENSITIES AND 557.7 AND 630.0 NM EMISSIONS IN THE NOCTURNAL F-REGION

The quantum yields f(1D) and f(1S) of the atomic oxygen excited states O(1D) and O(1S), respectively, from dissociative recombination in the nocturnal F-region are determined utilizing rocket airglow (OI 630 nm and OI 557.7 nm) and electron density data obtained in two experiments that were carried out at Natal (geogr. 5.8-degrees-S, 35.2-degrees-W), Brazil, on 11 December 1985 and 31 October 1986. Using the 557.7 and 630 nm airglow data from the second experiment Takahashi et al. (1990, Planet. Space Sci. 38, 547) calculated the ratio f(1S)/f(1D). From a different approach we utilize in this paper the airglow volumetric emission rate and electron density to calculate f(1S) and f(1D), individually, which are compared with the previously published results from in situ and laboratory measurements. Our results show f(1S) to be height dependent. In the second experiment it varied from 1.96 x 10(-2) at 190 km to 1.33 x 10(-1) at 315 km with an average value of 0.053. The average value for the first experiment was 0.041. The f(1D) magnitude was also found to vary significantly with altitude, its value increasing both upwards and downwards from 250 km where it attains a minimum of about 0.77.