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NO + and O + in the high latitude F‐region
Author(s) -
Banks P. M.,
Schunk R. W.,
Raitt W. J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl001i006p00239
Subject(s) - electric field , ion , latitude , physics , electron , atomic physics , dissociative recombination , high latitude , electron density , f region , ionic bonding , d region , geophysics , ionosphere , atmospheric sciences , geology , recombination , nuclear physics , chemistry , astronomy , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , gene
From an analysis of ionic reactions, we deduce that NO + should be an important constituent of the high latitude F‐region. Owing to the rapid increase of the reaction O + + N 2 → NO + + N with ion velocity and temperature, high latitude electric fields and consequentE → ⊥ × B →drifts act to deplete O + in favor of NO + . As a consequence of this and the reduced rate of NO + dissociative recombination arising from high electron temperatures, it seems that NO + can, at times, replace O + as the major F 2 ‐region ion in the vicinity of the auroral ovals. The same processes should also be effective in creating nighttime electron density troughs composed primarily of NO + in regions equatorward of the auroral ovals where large electric fields are often present.