Simulation of the Ionosphere Utilizing Microwave Ion Generation Techniques

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the simulation of the environment encountered in the lower regions of the ionosphere (50 to 500 km) has been conducted at AEDC. Microwave cavities were utilized in conjunction with a converging-diverging nozzle and a cryogenically pumped densities. A platinum, cylindrical, electrostatic probe was used to measure the voltage-current characteristics of the low density plasma in the nozzle exit plane. For exit plane Mach numbers of 2.86 to 3.17, ion densities of 575,000/cc to 1,690,000/cc and electron temperatures of 3000K plus or minus 900K were calculated using the electrostatic probe characteristics.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0734256

Entities

People

  • B. W. Gilley
  • M. R. Busby

Organizations

  • Arnold Engineering Development Complex

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Calibration
  • Chambers
  • Charged Particles
  • Conical Nozzles
  • Electrons
  • Electrostatic Probes
  • Flow
  • Flow Fields
  • Gas Flow
  • Ion Density
  • Ionosphere
  • Mach Number
  • Measurement
  • Simulations
  • Test Facilities
  • Vacuum
  • Vacuum Chambers

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics