The collision frequency in the E- and D-regions of the ionosphere

Thrane, E. V.; Piggott, W. R.

doi:10.1016/0021-9169(66)90021-3

Cited by 156 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The refractive indices are functions of the electron density, N e , the wave frequency, the strength and direction of the magnetic field and the collision frequency. In the height region where the collision frequency matters (<100 km), it is proportional to the atmosphere's pressure (Thrane and Piggott, 1966). In a study using collision frequencies obtained from many sounding rocket flights, Friedrich and Torkar (1983) derived a proportionality factor to pressure of 6.41 × 10 5 m 2 s −1 N −1 , which agrees with the laboratory value of Phelps and Pack (1959) within the accuracy of the derivation.…”

Section: Wave Propagation Experimentssupporting

confidence: 60%

Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements

et al. 2013

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Abstract. The ECOMA (Existence and Charge state Of Meteoric dust grains in the middle Atmosphere) series of sounding rocket flights consisted of nine flights with almost identical payload design and flight characteristics. All flights carried a radio wave propagation experiment together with a variety of plasma probes. Three of these measured electron densities, two ion densities. The rockets were all launched from the Andøya Rocket Range, Norway, in four campaigns between 2006 and 2010. Emphasis is on the final three flights from 2010 where the payloads were equipped with four instruments capable of measuring plasma densities in situ, among them a novel probe flown for the first time in conjunction with a wave propagation experiment. Deviation factors of all probe data relative to the wave propagation results were derived and revealed that none of the probe data were close to the wave propagation results at all heights, but -more importantly -the instruments showed very different behaviour at different altitudes. The novel multi-needle Langmuir probe exhibits the best correlation to the wave propagation data, as there is minimal influence of the payload potential, but it is still subject to aerodynamics, especially at its location at the rear of the payload. For all other probe types, the deviation factor comes closer to unity with increasing plasma density. No systematic difference of the empirical deviation factor between day and night can be found. The large negative payload potential in the last three flights may be the cause for discrepancies between electron and ion probe data below 85 km.

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Section: Wave Propagation Experimentssupporting

confidence: 60%

Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements

et al. 2013

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“…As the electron collision frequency is nearly proportional to T e , collision frequency could be explained with the high T e observed with Langmuir probe. This idea was also presented by Beynon and Owen Jones (1965), and Thrane and Piggot (1966). Moreover Walker (1968) tried to explain the high T e in the E-region as due to the vibrational temperature (T v ) Horizontal axis is the probe potential (energy of electrons) and vertical axis is the second harmonic component in amperes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Possible interaction between thermal electrons and vibrationally excited N<sub>2</sub> in the lower E-region

et al. 2011

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Abstract. As one of the tasks to find the energy source(s) of thermal electrons, which elevate(s) electron temperature higher than neutral temperature in the lower ionosphere Eregion, energy distribution function of thermal electron was measured with a sounding rocket at the heights of 93-131 km by the applying second harmonic method.The energy distribution function showed a clear hump at the energy of ∼0.4 eV. In order to find the reason of the hump, we conducted laboratory experiment. We studied difference of the energy distribution functions of electrons in thermal energy range, which were measured with and without EUV radiation to plasma of N 2 /Ar and N 2 /O 2 gas mixture respectively. For N 2 /Ar gas mixture plasma, the hump is not clearly identified in the energy distribution of thermal electrons. On the other hand for N 2 /O 2 gas mixture, which contains vibrationally excited N 2 , a clear hump is found when irradiated by EUV.The laboratory experiment seems to suggest that the hump is produced as a result of interaction between vibrationally excited N 2 and thermal electrons, and this interaction is the most probable heating source for the electrons of thermal energy range in the lower E-region. It is also suggested that energy distribution of the electrons in high energy part may not be Maxwellian, and DC probe measures the electrons which are non Maxwellian, and therefore "electron temperature" is calculated higher.

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“…The first results of an experiment specifically designed to investigate the lower ionosphere below the E region were presented by Gardner and Pawsey (1953). The ordinary (O) and extraordinary (E or X) magnetoionic components each suffer different amplitude and phase variations with height due to the height variations in electron density (N e ) and collision frequency (v) (e.g., Thrane and Piggott 1966;Friedrich and Torkar 1983;Holdsworth et al 2002;Vuthaluru et al 2002), and this was exploited by Gardner and Pawsey to measure the electron densities. The technique they used was the foundation of the differential absorption experiment (DAE) and differential phase experiment (DPE), amongst the few techniques capable of providing regular ground-based measurements of electron density in the mesosphere (for reviews, see Belrose 1970;Manson and Meek 1984).…”

Section: Brief Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the application of radars operating in the MF and HF bands to investigate the neutral upper atmosphere is one of the oldest such techniques still regularly in use, the techniques have been continuously improved, largely through the availability of better hardware (e.g., Reid et al 1995;Singer et al 2008;Li et al 2012) and readily available and economical but powerful computers, and provide a robust and reliable method of obtaining wind velocities (e.g., Stubbs 1973;Pancheva et al 2002), turbulence intensities (e.g., Hocking 1983;Holdsworth et al 2001), electron densities and collision frequencies (e.g., Thrane and Piggott 1966;von Biel 1977;Friedrich and Torkar 1983;Holdsworth et al 2002;Singer et al 2011), measurements of atmospheric structure (e.g., Gregory 1956;Hall 2000), temperatures (e.g., Tsutsumi et al 1999;Holdsworth et al 2006), and measurements of energy and momentum transfer (e.g., Reid and Vincent 1987;Murphy and Vincent 1993;Placke et al 2015) in the MLT region.…”

Section: Mf and Hf Radar Techniques For The Mlt Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MF and HF radar techniques for investigating the dynamics and structure of the 50 to 110 km height region: a review

Reid

2015

Prog. in Earth and Planet. Sci.

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The application of medium-frequency (MF) and high-frequency (HF) partial reflection radar to investigate the neutral upper atmosphere is one of the oldest such techniques still regularly in use. The techniques have been continuously improved and remain a robust and reliable method of obtaining wind velocities, turbulence intensities, electron densities, and measurements of atmospheric structure in the mesosphere lower thermosphere (MLT) region (50 to 110 km). In this paper, we review recent developments, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the technique, and consider possible improvements.

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The collision frequency in the E- and D-regions of the ionosphere

Cited by 156 publications

References 32 publications

Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements

Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements

Possible interaction between thermal electrons and vibrationally excited N<sub>2</sub> in the lower E-region

MF and HF radar techniques for investigating the dynamics and structure of the 50 to 110 km height region: a review

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The collision frequency in the E- and D-regions of the ionosphere

Cited by 156 publications

References 32 publications

Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements

Multi-instrument comparisons of D-region plasma measurements

Possible interaction between thermal electrons and vibrationally excited N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; in the lower E-region

MF and HF radar techniques for investigating the dynamics and structure of the 50 to 110 km height region: a review

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Possible interaction between thermal electrons and vibrationally excited N<sub>2</sub> in the lower E-region