Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1986

Abstract

The Ar+ densities in the terrestrial ionosphere are computed for both low and high solar activity models. The reaction N2+(υ > 0) + Ar → N2+ Ar+ is found to be a significant source of Ar+, nearly equal to photoionization and electron impact ionization in the high solar activity model. Peak densities of Ar+ of 11 cm−3 near 190 km and 22 cm−3 near 220 km are predicted for the low and high solar activity models. It is suggested that a simultaneous measurement of Ar+ and Ar densities would provide a test for the presence of vibrationally excited N2+ in the terrestrial ionosphere.

Comments

Copyright © 1986 by the American Geophysical Union.

The following article appeared in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 91(A2), and may be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/JA091iA02p01731/full

Permission to Deposit an Article in an Institutional Repository:

Adopted by Council 13 December 2009.

AGU allows authors to deposit their journal articles if the version is the final published citable version of record, the AGU copyright statement is clearly visible on the posting, and the posting is made 6 months after official publication by the AGU.

DOI

10.1029/JA091iA02p01731


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