Monte Carlo model of electron transport for the calculation of Mars dayglow emissions

V. I. Shematovich (1) , D. V. Bisikalo (1) , J.-C. Gérard (2) , Christopher M. Cox (2) , S. W. Bougher (3) , François Leblanc (4)

1 INASAN - Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences
2 LPAP - Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire
3 AOSS - Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences [Ann Arbor]
4 SA - Service d'aéronomie

A model of the photoelectron collision-induced component of the Mars dayglow using recent cross sections and solar flux is described. The calculation of the photoelectron source of excitation is based on a stochastic solution of the Boltzmann equation using the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The neutral atmosphere is taken from outputs of a global circulation model, and recent inelastic collision cross sections are adopted. The calculated vertical profiles of the CO Cameron bands and CO2 + doublet emissions integrated along the line of sight compare well with the Spectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars (SPICAM) limb profiles observed with the SPICAM spectrograph on board Mars Express made at Ls = 166° during the summer season at northern midlatitudes. The comparison shows agreement to within the uncertainties of the excitation cross sections. Seasonal changes in the brightness and the altitude of the emission peaks are predicted with intensity variations in the range 15–20%.

Mots clés: Mars atmosphere; photoelectrons; SPCAM dayglow observations

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère

V. I. Shematovich, D. V. Bisikalo, J.-C. Gérard, Christopher M. Cox, S. W. Bougher, et al.. Monte Carlo model of electron transport for the calculation of Mars dayglow emissions. Journal of Geophysical Research. Planets, 2008, 113 (2), pp.E02011. ⟨10.1029/2007JE002938⟩. ⟨hal-00258939⟩