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Modifying effects of a strong electromagnetic wave upon a weakly ionized plasma: A kinetic description
Author(s) -
Stubbe P.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs016i003p00417
Subject(s) - physics , electron , electromagnetic radiation , ionosphere , plasma , atomic physics , ionization , distribution function , boltzmann equation , electromagnetic electron wave , excitation , kinetic energy , computational physics , maxwell–boltzmann distribution , wave propagation , boltzmann constant , quantum electrodynamics , ion , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , geophysics
The Boltzmann equation for a weakly ionized plasma under the action of a strong electromagnetic wave is solved numerically, assuming that the wave frequency is much larger than the electron gyrofrequency. Elastic collisions between electrons and neutral particles as well as rotational, vibrational, and electronic excitation are taken into account. The solutions are used to investigate to which extent the electron temperature and the propagation characteristics of strong electromagnetic waves in the lower ionosphere are affected by deviations of the electron distribution function from a Maxwellian distribution.