Numerical Simulation of a Possible Freezing and Sheet Formation Mechanism for Barium Cloud Striations.
Abstract
Presented is a possible mechanism for the freezing, or apparent freezing of barium cloud striations and for the formation of long thin sheets of barium on the leading edge of the cloud. The essence of the model is that the finite Pedersen mobility of the barium ions allows them to separate from the electron cloud. The barium is replaced in the electron cloud by the ions constituting the ambient ionosphere, which are compressed up to the required densities by their own Pedersen mobility. In the process of existing the electron cloud, the barium is expanded and hence attains a density lower than when it coexisted with the electron cloud. For many ionospheric parameters the barium will have in effect left the region of further structuring, which will still be proceeding the electron cloud. As the barium leaves the cloud, it forms a long thin sheet of lower density barium, one side of which is considerably steeper than the other, which extends from the leading (nonstructuring) edge of the cloud. An observer watching only the barium would conclude that the cloud had frozen. Further, the electron cloud itself may decay if the ions coexisting with it are subject to a fast recombination chemistry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA121087
Entities
People
- J. A. Fedder
- Sidney L. Ossakow
- Steven T.P. Zalesak
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory