Peculiarities of meteor radiation Original Research Article

In this paper, the characteristics of meteor radiation are investigated. Limitations of spectroscopic observations and their theoretical interpretation are reviewed. The character of a radiating spectrum depends on the speed of the meteor and on the chemical and mechanical structure of the meteoroid. The spectrum changes along the path of a meteoroid in the atmosphere according to the law of Wien. Terminal flares are often observed in fast meteors, which are formed due to the interaction of meteoric plasma with the particles in the atmosphere. Such features present an opportunity for the meteor plasma to radiate by the mechanism of cascade radiation even when the speed is more than 60 km/s, similar to the radiation of gas-dynamic lasers.