Ion and electron temperatures in the topside ionosphere

Experimental and theoretical ion and electron temperatures in the topside ionosphere are investigated. Experimental results come from an analysis of incoherent-scatter data taken at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Consideration of the energy balance equations gives the theoretical ion and electron temperatures. Two ions, 0+ and H+, are assumed to be the only ions present in the topside ionosphere. Experimental evidence shows that a third ion, He+ is + + relatively unimportant compared to 0 and H. Photoionization of neutral particles, charge transfer, and diffusion of these charged particles are the important physical processes which are used to calculate their number + + + density profiles. o and H number densities are shown to affect the 0 , H+, and electron temperatures. Analysis of theoretical autocorrelation functions of the incoherent-scatter power spectra shows that number densities and temperatures of 0+ , + II , and electrons can be deduced from experimental autocorrelation functions. Experimental temperature results indicate that the maximum difference between ++ Hand 0 temperatures occurs at 550 km. This agrees with temperatures calculated from the energy balance equations. The experimental and theoretical .t and 0+ temperatures agree fairly closely from 200 to 1200 km while the electron temperatures agree from 400 to 1200 km.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Munninghoff, Donald Edward

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bowhill, S.A.

• photoionization
• ion temperatures
• electron temperatures
• topside ionosphere
• incoherent-scatter data

Statement dc:rights

• 1978 Donald Edward Munninghoff

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

311916

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/25605