The investigator will apply theoretical procedures to the quantitative prediction of cross sections for Rayleigh and Raman scattering of ultraviolet radiation in molecular oxygen, and used to explore the influence of scattering on the transmission and attenuation of solar ultraviolet radiation in the atmosphere. He will calculate the cross sections and insert them into the collision kernel of the Boltzmann equation to study the effects of vibrational excitation in the slowing of energetic nitrogen atoms and production of rotationally and vibrationally excited NO. He will apply quantal and semi-classical procedures to determine the rate coefficients for energy transfer in collisions involving vibrationally excited molecules. Finally, he will quantitatively assess the contribution of radiation involved in the collision of metastable oxygen molecules to the continuum emission present in the night airglow.
