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Fountain-like flow of heavy oxygen ions from the Earth`s ionosphere in response to transverse heating

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.491669· OSTI ID:244901
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville, AL (United States). Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Normally, the gravitationally bound heavy O{sup +} ions in the Earth`s ionosphere are in a diffusive equilibrium. However, when energized to superthermal energies of a few electronvolts transverse to the geomagnetic field, the combined effects of the downward gravitational and the upward electric and mirror forces produce interesting flow patterns in the vertical direction, as in a pulsating fountain. This flow pattern is studied by means of a particle-in-cell code.
OSTI ID:
244901
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 24; ISSN ITPSBD; ISSN 0093-3813
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English