Spectropolarimetry of emission of the upper atmospheric layers: III. Polarization of the radiation of optical flares in the emission of night sky

It is shown that the collision excitation of an ensemble of oxygen atoms by an electron beam may be responsible, in principle, for the polarization of the 630.0-nm spectral line emitted by this ensemble in optical flares obse rved in the emission of night atmosphere of the Earth. Starting from this a ssumption, the degree of polarization of this line is estimated. The condit ions are specified under which one may expect a higher degree of polarizati on for this line.