THE FORMATION OF IONS IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

The present state of our knowledge concerning the formation of positive and negative ions in the earth's normal ionosphere is reviewed. The main process by which positive ions and electrons are formed in the ionosphere is photoionization of neutral constituents by solar vacuum ultraviolet radiation. Negative ions are formed primarily by direct attachment of electrons to certain neutral constituents. Existing values of the cross sections and rate coefficients of these processes are presented and gaps in the present knowledge are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1961
Accession Number
AD0273999

Entities

People

  • Robert E. Huffman

Organizations

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Cross Sections
  • Air Force
  • Boundary Layer
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Dissociation
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Infrared Radiation
  • Ionization
  • Ionization Potentials
  • Ionosphere
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Radiation
  • Ultraviolet Radiation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics