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Ion velocity distributions in the high‐latitude ionosphere
Author(s) -
StMaurice J.P.,
Schunk R. W.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg017i001p00099
Subject(s) - ionosphere , boltzmann equation , ion , physics , collision , computational physics , boltzmann constant , maxwell–boltzmann distribution , excitation , atomic physics , mechanics , geophysics , plasma , thermodynamics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , computer security , computer science
The theory and observations relating to ion velocity distributions in the high‐latitude F region are reviewed. The review covers three basic aspects, including methods for calculating ion velocity distributions, experimental evidence for the existence of non‐Maxwellian ion velocity distributions, and the ionospheric consequences of non‐Maxwellian distributions. Specific topics covered include closed form solutions to Boltzmann's equation for a simple collision model, series solutions to the Boltzmann equation for more general collision models, retarding potential analyzer measurements, excitation of VLF electrostatic emissions, ion‐neutral reaction rates, and transport effects.