Specific Ionization in the Polar Atmosphere Due to Precipitating Heavy Particles.

Abstract

An expression is derived for the specific ionization of the polar atmosphere by precipitating fluxes of heavy particles. This expression may be evaluated with the aid of a digital computer. The results depend significantly upon the selection of the proper atmospheric model. The errors introduced by neglecting the variation of pitch angle with altitude and by simplifying the expression for stopping power were found to be acceptable at most altitudes of interest, permitting the use of a much simpler expression. The additional ionization contributed by particles returning through a given altitude after mirroring at lower altitudes was found to be negligible. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 02, 1973
Accession Number
AD0774400

Entities

People

  • Bach Sellers
  • Joseph G. Kelley

Organizations

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Digital Computers
  • Ionization
  • Particles

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.