Abstract
[i] The optical emissions in a large number of bright sprites observed over one storm in 1998 exhibit a relaxation that is closely exponential in time. This feature was unexpected but might be explained by the presence of quasi-constant electric fields over times of several milliseconds, in which case the optical relaxation would be a direct indication of the exponentially changing electron density. The relaxation rates for sprites appear to have an upper bound that is consistent with the dissociative electron attachment rates expected at sprite altitudes. The experimental results are consistent with existing large-scale electrodynamic models of sprites as well as with the streamer mechanism as the underlying physical process for sprite ionization.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics |
| Volume | 107 |
| Issue number | A5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2002 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geophysics
- Forestry
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science
- Ecology
- Water Science and Technology
- Soil Science
- Geochemistry and Petrology
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Atmospheric Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Space and Planetary Science
- Palaeontology
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Exponential relaxation of optical emissions in sprites. / Barrington-Leigh, Christopher P.; Pasko, Victor P.; Inan, Umran S.
In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 107, No. A5, 05.2002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Exponential relaxation of optical emissions in sprites
AU - Barrington-Leigh, Christopher P.
AU - Pasko, Victor P.
AU - Inan, Umran S.
PY - 2002/5
Y1 - 2002/5
N2 - [i] The optical emissions in a large number of bright sprites observed over one storm in 1998 exhibit a relaxation that is closely exponential in time. This feature was unexpected but might be explained by the presence of quasi-constant electric fields over times of several milliseconds, in which case the optical relaxation would be a direct indication of the exponentially changing electron density. The relaxation rates for sprites appear to have an upper bound that is consistent with the dissociative electron attachment rates expected at sprite altitudes. The experimental results are consistent with existing large-scale electrodynamic models of sprites as well as with the streamer mechanism as the underlying physical process for sprite ionization.
AB - [i] The optical emissions in a large number of bright sprites observed over one storm in 1998 exhibit a relaxation that is closely exponential in time. This feature was unexpected but might be explained by the presence of quasi-constant electric fields over times of several milliseconds, in which case the optical relaxation would be a direct indication of the exponentially changing electron density. The relaxation rates for sprites appear to have an upper bound that is consistent with the dissociative electron attachment rates expected at sprite altitudes. The experimental results are consistent with existing large-scale electrodynamic models of sprites as well as with the streamer mechanism as the underlying physical process for sprite ionization.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=2442524659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2001JA900117
DO - 10.1029/2001JA900117
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:2442524659
VL - 107
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
SN - 2169-897X
IS - A5
ER -