Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004phst..113..141m&link_type=abstract
Physica Scripta, Volume 2004, Issue T113, pp. 141-143 (2004).
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
3
Scientific paper
The very first instrument launched to study charged dust in the tropical mesosphere detected a thick layer of fine dust (radius approx 10,nm) near the mesopause. While the dust in the thinner lower part of the layer carried a negative charge the dust in the thicker upper part carried a positive charge (Gelinas et al 1998). While the negative charge on the dust was expected, the positive charge was not because the observation was half hour after local astronomical sunset. The observers sought to resolve the problem by suggesting that the positive grains were still carrying their pre-sunset positive charge acquired by photoemission. Here we reinvestigate that proposal and suggest an alternative mechanism to explain the positive charge on the upper grains. Central to our proposal is the recognition that micrometeoroids that enter the earth's atmosphere at sufficient entry speeds, even on the night side, acquire substantial positive charges due to thermionic electron emission high up in the mesosphere before they start ablating in the mesopause region. We also explain why the dust in the lower part of the observed region carried a negative charge.
Mendis Asoka D.
Rosenberg Marlene
Wong Wai-Ho
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