scholarly journals Mechanisms of the electron density depletion in the SAR arc region

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Magnetic Storm ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Drift Velocity ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Electron Densities ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Vibrationally Excited ◽  
Plasma Drift ◽  
Excited Nitrogen

Abstract. This study compares the measurements of electron density and temperature and the integral airglow intensity at 630 nm in the SAR arc region and slightly south of this (obtained by the Isis 2 spacecraft during the 18 December 1971 magnetic storm), with the model results obtained using the time dependent one-dimensional mathematical model of the Earth\\'s ionosphere and plasmasphere. The explicit expression in the third Enskog approximation for the electron thermal conductivity coefficient in the multicomponent mixture of ionized gases and a simplified calculation method for this coefficient presents an opportunity to calculate more exactly the electron temperature and density and 630 nm emission within SAR arc region are used in the model. Collisions between N2 and hot thermal electrons in the SAR arc region produce vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules. It appears that the loss rate of O+(4S) due to reactions with the vibrationally excited nitrogen is enough to explain electron density depression by a factor of two at F-region heights and the topside ionosphere density variations within the SAR arc if the erosion of plasma within geomagnetic field tubes, during the main phase of the geomagnetic storm and subsequent filling of geomagnetic tubes during the recovery phase, are considered. To explain the disagreement by a factor 1.5 between the observed and modeled SAR arc electron densities an additional plasma drift velocity ~–30 m s–1 in the ion continuity equations is needed during the recovery phase. This additional plasma drift velocity is likely caused by the transition from convecting to corotating flux tubes on the equatorward wall of the trough. The electron densities and temperatures and 630 nm integral intensity at the SAR arc and slightly south of this region as measured for the 18 December 1971 magnetic storm were correctly described by the model without perpendicular electric fields. Within this model framework the effect of the perpendicular electric field ~100 mv m–1 with a duration ~1 h on the SAR arc electron density profiles was found to be large. However, this effect is small if ~1–2 h have passed after the electric field was set equal to zero.

The role of vibrationally excited nitrogen in the formation of the mid-latitude negative ionospheric storms

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 554-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Storm ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Electron Gas ◽  
Energy Balance Equation ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Ionospheric Storm ◽  
Vibrationally Excited ◽  
Electron Density And Temperature ◽  
Excited Nitrogen

Abstract. Millstone Hill ionospheric storm time measurements of the electron density and temperature during the ionospheric storms (15-16 June 1965; 29-30 September 1969 and 17-18 August 1970) are compared with model results. The model of the Earth's ionosphere and plasmasphere includes interhemispheric coupling, the H+, O+(4S), O+(2D), O+(2P), NO+, O+2 and N+2 ions, electrons, photoelectrons, the electron and ion temperature, vibrationally excited N2 and the components of thermospheric wind. In order to model the electron temperature at the time of the 16 June 1965 negative storm, the heating rate of the electron gas by photoelectrons in the energy balance equation was multiplied by the factors 5-30 at he altitude above 700 km for the period 4.50-12.00 LT, 16 June 1965. The [O]/[N2] MSIS-86 decrease and vibrationally excited N2 effects are enough to account for the electron density depressions at Millstone Hill during the three storms. The factor of 2 (for 27-30 September 1969 magnetic storm) and the & actor 2.7 (for 16-18 August 1970 magnetic storm) reduction in the daytime peak density due to enhanced vibrationally excited N2 is brought about by the increase in the O++N2 rate factor.

Vibrational nitrogen concentration in the ionosphere and its dependence on season and solar cycle

1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1164-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Ennis ◽  
G. J. Bailey ◽  
R. J. Moffett
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vibrationally Excited ◽  
F Region ◽  
Excited Nitrogen

Abstract. A fully time-dependent mathematical model, SUPIM, of the Earth's plasmasphere is used in this investigation. The model solves coupled time-dependent equations of continuity, momentum and energy balance for the O+, H+, He+, N+2, O+2, NO+ ions and electrons; in the present study, the geomagnetic field is represented by an axial-centred dipole. Calculation of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules, which has been incorporated into the model, is presented here. The enhanced model is then used to investigate the behaviour of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules with F10.7 and solar EUV flux, during summer, winter and equinox conditions. The presence of vibrational nitrogen causes a reduction in the electron content. The diurnal peak in electron content increases linearly up to a certain value of F10.7, and above this value increases at a lesser rate, in agreement with previous observations and modelling work. The value of F10.7 at which this change in gradient occurs is reduced by the presence of vibrational nitrogen. Vibrational nitrogen is most effective at F-region altitudes during summer daytime conditions when a reduction in the electron density is seen. A lesser effect is seen at equinox, and in winter the effect is negligible. The summer reduction in electron density due to vibrational nitrogen therefore reinforces the seasonal anomaly.

scholarly journals Glow Discharge in a High-Velocity Air Flow: The Role of the Associative Ionization Reactions Involving Excited Atoms

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 2524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezequiel Cejas ◽  
Beatriz Rosa Mancinelli ◽  
Leandro Prevosto
Keyword(s):  
Glow Discharge ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Activation Barrier ◽  
Thermal Dissociation ◽  
Kinetic Scheme ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Vibrationally Excited ◽  
Excited Atoms ◽  
Associative Ionization ◽  
Excited Nitrogen

A kinetic scheme for non-equilibrium regimes of atmospheric pressure air discharges is developed. A distinctive feature of this model is that it includes associative ionization with the participation of N(2D, 2P) atoms. The thermal dissociation of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules and the electronic excitation from all the vibrational levels of the nitrogen molecules are also accounted for. The model is used to simulate the parameters of a glow discharge ignited in a fast longitudinal flow of preheated (T0 = 1800–2900 K) air. The results adequately describe the dependence of the electric field in the glow discharge on the initial gas temperature. For T0 = 1800 K, a substantial acceleration in the ionization kinetics of the discharge is found at current densities larger than 3 A/cm2, mainly due to the N(2P) + O(3P) → NO+ + e process; being the N(2P) atoms produced via quenching of N2(A3∑u+) molecules by N(4S) atoms. Correspondingly, the reduced electric field noticeably falls because the electron energy (6.2 eV) required for the excitation of the N2(A3∑u+) state is considerably lower than the ionization energy (9.27 eV) of the NO molecules. For higher values of T0, the associative ionization N(2D) + O(3P) → NO+ + e process (with a low–activation barrier of 0.38 eV) becomes also important in the production of charged particles. The N(2D) atoms being mainly produced via quenching of N2(A3∑u+) molecules by O(3P) atoms.

scholarly journals A modeling study of ionospheric F2-region storm effects at low geomagnetic latitudes during 17-22 March 1990

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 915-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Pavlov ◽  
S. Fukao ◽  
S. Kawamura
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Neutral Wind ◽  
Geomagnetic Equator ◽  
Equatorial Anomaly ◽  
Vibrationally Excited ◽  
Plasma Drift ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Field Lines

Abstract. We have presented a comparison between the modeled NmF2 and hmF2, and NmF2 and hmF2, which were observed in the low-latitude ionosphere simultaneously by the Kokubunji, Yamagawa, Okinawa, Manila, Vanimo, and Darwin ionospheric sounders, by the middle and upper atmosphere (MU) radar during 17-22 March 1990, and by the Arecibo radar for the time period of 20-22 March 1990. A comparison between the electron and ion temperatures measured by the MU and Arecibo radars and those produced by the model of the ionosphere and plasmasphere is presented. The empirical zonal electric field, the meridional neutral wind taken from the HWM90 wind model, and the NRLMSISE-00 neutral temperature and densities are corrected so that the model results agree reasonably with the ionospheric sounder observations, and the MU and Arecibo radar data. It is proved that the nighttime weakening of the equatorial zonal electric field (in comparison with that produced by the empirical model of Fejer and Scherliess (1997) or Scherliess and Fejer (1999)), in combination with the corrected wind-induced plasma drift along magnetic field lines, provides the development of the nighttime enhancements in NmF2 observed over Manila during 17-22 March 1990. As a result, the new physical mechanism of the nighttime NmF2 enhancement formation close to the geomagnetic equator includes the nighttime weakening of the equatorial zonal electric field and equatorward nighttime plasma drift along magnetic field lines caused by neutral wind in the both geomagnetic hemispheres. It is found that the latitudinal positions of the crests depend on the E×B drift velocity and on the neutral wind velocity. The relative role of the main mechanisms of the equatorial anomaly suppression observed during geomagnetic storms is studied for the first time in terms of storm-time variations of the model crest-to-trough ratios of the equatorial anomaly. During most of the studied time period, a total contribution from meridional neutral winds and variations in the zonal electric field to the equatorial anomaly changes is larger than that from geomagnetic storm disturbances in the neutral temperature and densities. Vibrationally excited N2 and O2 promote the equatorial anomaly enhancement during the predominant part of the studied time period, however, the role of vibrationally excited N2 and O2 in the development of the equatorial anomaly is not significant. The asymmetries in the neutral wind and densities relative to the geomagnetic equator are responsible for the north-south asymmetry in NmF2 and hmF2, and for the asymmetry between the values of the crest-to-trough ratios of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The model simulations provide evidence in favor of an asymmetry in longitude of the energy input into the auroral region of the Northern Hemisphere on 21 March 1990.

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