The CaO orange system in meteor spectra

• Published in: Planetary and space science 2018-02, Vol.151, p.27-32
• Main Authors: Berezhnoy, A.A., Borovička, J., Santos, J., Rivas-Silva, J.F., Sandoval, L., Stolyarov, A.V., Palma, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CaO orange system; Chemistry of impact events; Meteor spectra
• ISSN: 0032-0633; 1873-5088
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2017.10.007

The CaO orange band system was simulated in the region 5900–6300 Å and compared with the experimentally observed spectra of Benešov bolide wake. The required vibronic Einstein emission coefficients were estimated by means of the experimental radiative lifetimes under the simplest Franck-Condon approximation. A moderate agreement was achieved, and the largest uncertainties come from modeling shape of FeO orange bands. Using a simple model the CaO column density in the wake of the Benešov bolide at the height of 29 km was estimated as (5 ± 2) × 1014 cm−2 by a comparison of the present CaO spectra with the AlO bands nicely observed at 4600–5200 Å in the same spectrum. The obtained CaO content is in a good agreement with the quenching model developed for the impact-produced cloud, although future theoretical and experimental studies of both CaO and FeO orange systems contribution would be needed to confirm these results. •Einstein coefficients of diagonal CaO transitions were estimated.•CaO content in the wake of Benešov bolide was obtained.•Obtained CaO content agrees with the quenching model of meteor events.