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Inadequacy of Recombination as the Source of Light from Enduring Meteor Trains

Abstract

IT has been suggested1,2 that the enduring column of light left by a meteor in its passage across the sky is produced by radiative recombination of the meteoric ions and free electrons. We wish to criticize this hypothesis on a quantitative basis.

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References

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HAWKINS, G., COOK, A. Inadequacy of Recombination as the Source of Light from Enduring Meteor Trains. Nature 178, 161–162 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/178161b0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/178161b0

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