Dissipation effects controlling the electrical morphology of the mesosphere
Abstract
Electrical dissipation in the mesosphere is dominated by gas particle collisions. Hence, the electrical properties of this region are con trolled by the density of the atmosphere. For low-frequency propagation, the electromagnetic properties of the mesosphere can be described in terms of variations with altitude of the local complex refractive index. For the simple condition of excitation of the mesosphere by a single kind of ionizing radiation, the complex refractive index should have exponential-scale variation with altitude of less than 12 km for the lower mesosphere. Sudden onset of more complex conditions of excitation may trigger the mesosphere sphere into a state of shelving or ducted structure in its electrical properties. Depending on the details of the excitation, such ducting will contain regions of negative gradients in the altitude variation of the electrical properties, instead of merely the positive gradient with a 12-km upper limit.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0403335
Entities
People
- P. A. Goldberg
Organizations
- RAND Corporation