THE EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF METEORIC LINE DENSITIES AND ATTACHMENT RATES,

Abstract

A theory for the dependence of meteoric-echo heights and durations on meteor velocity and magnitude, and on the radio wavelength, is used to interpret experimental meteor data of a variety of types. It is shown that the data set forms a more consistent whole on the assumption of a three-body than of a two-body attachment process. No velocity dependence is found for the ratio of line density to luminosity. An attachment time constant of about 100 sec is deduced for a reference height of 95 km, and a zero-magnitude meteor is found to produce a maximum line density of about 100 electrons/m. Combination of the theoretical and experimental results makes possible calculation of the heights and durations of meteor echoes under a full range of conditions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0425992

Entities

People

  • Laurence A. Manning

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attachment
  • Data Sets
  • Electrons
  • Luminosity
  • Physical Properties

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics