Semikinetic modeling of the outflow of ionospheric plasma through the topside collisional to collisionless transition region

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JA00643· OSTI ID:7259041

Wilson, G R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville (United States)

The author applies a collisional semikinetic model to the study of the topside ionosphere transition region. In this study he considers the transition from (1) O{sup +} to H{sup +} dominance, (2) subsonic to supersonic H{sup +} flow, and (3) collisional to collisionless plasma. He focuses primarily on the H{sup +} ions as they flow upward from a relatively low altitude of 500-1,000 km to a high altitude of 7,000 km. These ions are subjected to collisions with O{sup +} ions and self collisions, as well as the effects of macroscopic forces such as the magnetic mirror force, gravity, and the ambipolar electric force. He finds that when supersonic outflow occurs, the H{sup +} velocity distribution function shows a large departure from Maxwellian with a large positive and then negative heat flow, particularly in the region where the flow Mach number passes through one. In cases where subsonic outflow occurs and the H{sup +} density is relatively low, distribution functions with two peaks can occur. In these situations the H{sup +} ions have large parallel temperatures and large heat flows when the two peaks are of unequal height.

• OSTI ID: 7259041
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97:A7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
FLUID FLOW
HYDROGEN IONS
HYDROGEN IONS 1 PLUS
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OXYGEN IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
SUBSONIC FLOW
SUPERSONIC FLOW