Energy transfer rates for electrons in the ionosphere
Abstract
The energy loss rates (electron cooling rates) for elastic electron collisions with neutral and ionic gas targets in the ionosphere have been revised using the latest and most reliable momentum transfer cross sections in the electron temperature range 100-5000 K. The latest available cooling rates for inelastic electron collisions with atomic and molecular neutral gas targets are also summarized. Using simultaneous daytime measurements of density and temperature of neutral particles and ions appropriate to a midlatitude station, calculations are made for the total electron cooling rate for three different data sets corresponding to a solar minimum condition.
- Publication:
-
Annales de Geophysique
- Pub Date:
- March 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980AnG....36...51A
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Energy;
- Electron Scattering;
- Energy Dissipation;
- Energy Transfer;
- Ionospheric Sounding;
- Cross Sections;
- F Region;
- Midlatitude Atmosphere;
- Momentum Transfer;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- Geophysics