Ion and electron temperatures in the topside ionosphere
Munninghoff, Donald Edward
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/25605
Description
Title
Ion and electron temperatures in the topside ionosphere
Author(s)
Munninghoff, Donald Edward
Issue Date
1978
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Bowhill, S.A.
Department of Study
Physics
Discipline
Physics
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
ion temperatures
electron temperatures
topside ionosphere
incoherent-scatter data
photoionization
Language
en
Abstract
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.
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