CHARGED PARTICLE TEMPERATURES AND ELECTRON THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE,
Abstract
The thermal conductivity of the electron gas plays an important part in determining the profiles of electron and ion temperature in the upper atmosphere. Previous calculations have been based upon the thermal conductivity derived for a fully ionized gas. In aeronomic conditions however, the contribution made by neutral gas particles must be introduced. In this paper an analysis is made of the effect of electron-neutral particle collisions and an appropriate expression is developed for the electron thermal conductivity which is applicable to weakly ionized plasma. It is found that a correction term needed to include the effect of neutral particles is of importance during both day and night at all altitudes below 220 km. In fact, at altitudes below 135 km it appears that the conduction term can be neglected in the electron energy balance equation. Using the derived expression for the effective electron thermal conductivity, an example of calculated temperatures characteristic of quiet solar conditions is presented. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0805431
Entities
People
- Peter M. Banks
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University