Borucki W J, McKenzie R L, McKay C P, Duong N D, Boac D S
NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California 94035, USA.
Icarus. 1985;64:221-32. doi: 10.1016/0019-1035(85)90087-9.
Laser-induced plasmas in various gas mixtures were used to simulate lightning in other planetary atmospheres. This method of simulation has the advantage of producing short-duration, high-temperature plasmas free from electrode contamination. The laser-induced plasma discharges in air are shown to accurately simulate terrestrial lightning and can be expected to simulate lightning spectra in other planetary atmospheres. Spectra from 240 to 880 nm are presented for simulated lightning in the atmospheres of Venus, Earth, Jupiter, and Titan. The spectra of lightning on the other giant planets are expected to be similar to that of Jupiter because the atmospheres of these planets are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. The spectra of Venus and Titan show substantial amounts of radiation due to the presence of carbon atoms and ions and show CN Violet radiation. Although small amounts of CH4 and NH3 are present in the Jovian atmosphere, only emission from hydrogen and helium is observed. Most differences in the spectra can be understood in terms of the elemental ratios of the gas mixtures. Consequently, observations of the spectra of lightning on other planets should provide in situ estimates of the atmospheric and aerosol composition in the cloud layers in which lightning is occurring. In particular, the detection of inert gases such as helium should be possible and the relative abundance of these gases compared to major constituents might be determined.
利用各种气体混合物中的激光诱导等离子体来模拟其他行星大气中的闪电。这种模拟方法的优点是能产生无电极污染的短持续时间、高温等离子体。研究表明，空气中的激光诱导等离子体放电能准确模拟地球闪电，并且有望模拟其他行星大气中的闪电光谱。本文给出了金星、地球、木星和土卫六大气中模拟闪电的240至880纳米光谱。其他巨行星上的闪电光谱预计与木星相似，因为这些行星的大气主要由氢和氦组成。金星和土卫六的光谱显示，由于碳原子和离子的存在，有大量辐射，并显示出氰紫光辐射。虽然木星大气中存在少量甲烷和氨，但只观测到氢和氦的发射。光谱中的大多数差异可以根据气体混合物的元素比例来理解。因此，对其他行星上闪电光谱的观测应该能提供对闪电发生云层中大气和气溶胶成分的原位估计。特别是，有可能检测到氦等惰性气体，并确定这些气体相对于主要成分的相对丰度。
