Electron Transport at High Altitude.
Abstract
An infinite medium Green's function is constructed for the boundary value problem of electron transport along the magnetic field lines of the earth in an inhomogeneous anisotropically scattering medium. The goal of calculation is to obtain the photoelectron energy flux as a function of altitude, energy and the invariant latitude. The problem involves obtaining the solution for a Boltzmann type equation using a combination of analytic and numerical techniques. Detailed transport calculations of photoelectron energy degradation processes via both inelastic collisions with neutral and interaction with the ambient plasma are performed. A comparison is made of fluxes obtained with transport neglected (local fluxes) with those obtained with transport included (transport fluxes). The local fluxes are found to be larger than transport fluxes at low altitudes, while at high altitudes the transport fluxes are larger than local fluxes. As an illustrated calculation of our results of photoelectron fluxes, we present the volume excitation rates of several lines and bands of the day airglow. We also compare our results of excitation rates with theoretical and experimental data obtained in the existing literature. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA108185
Entities
People
- Ahmad Farokh Torabi
- Madhoo Kanal
Organizations
- Clark University