Physics
Scientific paper
Jan 1974
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1974p%26ss...22....1s&link_type=abstract
Planetary and Space Science, Volume 22, Issue 1, p. 1-18.
Physics
10
Scientific paper
For application to studies of the high latitude ionosphere, we have calculated ion velocity distributions for a weekly-ionized plasma subjected to crossed electric and magnetic fields. An exact solution to Boltzmann's equation has been obtained by replacing the Boltzmann collision integral with a simple relaxation model. At altitudes above about 150 km, where the ion collision frequency is much less than the ion cyclotron frequency, the ion distribution takes the shape of a torus in velocity space for electric fields greater than 40 mV m-1. This shape persists for 1-2 hr after application of the electric field. At altitudes where the ion collision and cyclotron frequencies are approximately equal (about 120 km), the ion velocity distribution is shaped like a bean for large electric field strengths. This bean-shaped distribution persists throughout the lifetime of ionospheric electric fileds. These highly non-Maxwellian ion velocity distributions may have an appreciable affect on the interpretation of ion temperature measurements.
Schunk Robert W.
St-Maurice J.-P.
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