Electron impact ionization: A new parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV electrons

Details Electron impact ionization: A new parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV electrons Electron impact ionization: A new parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV electrons

Sep 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008jgra..11309311f&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 113, Issue A9, CiteID A09311

Physics

4

Ionosphere: Particle Precipitation, Ionosphere: Auroral Ionosphere (2704), Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere/Ionosphere Interactions (2431), Magnetospheric Physics: Auroral Phenomena (2407), Ionosphere: Modeling And Forecasting

Scientific paper

We present a new parameterization of the altitude profile of the ionization rate in the Earth's atmosphere due to precipitating energetic electrons. Precipitating electrons are assumed to have a Maxwellian energy distribution and an isotropic pitch angle distribution above the atmosphere. In this study, two electron transport models (whose validity has been verified by observations) are employed to calculate the ionization rate, to which we have fit our new parameterization. To derive a new parameterization, we follow a similar scheme to that of Roble and Ridley (1987) but take into account further functional dependence on the incident electron energy. As a result, the new method presented in this paper provides a highly improved prediction for electron impact in a significantly extended energy range from 100 eV to 1 MeV, spanning 4 orders of magnitude. Note that we have neglected the contribution of bremsstrahlung X rays generated by energetic electrons, which are mostly important below 50 km altitude. The comparison of parameterization results with model calculations shows that the errors generally fall well within +/-5% in both the altitude-integrated total ionization rate and the peak value. The altitude profile as a whole is also accurately predicted, with errors in the altitudes of the peak and e-folding ionization rates significantly less than 5 km. The proposed new parameterization method with high accuracy is thus ready to be implemented into global models to assess the electron impact on the ionosphere and the atmosphere.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Electron impact ionization: A new parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV electrons does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Electron impact ionization: A new parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV electrons, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electron impact ionization: A new parameterization for 100 eV to 1 MeV electrons will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1336524