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Maintenance of Nocturnal Ionization

Abstract

THE rate of change of ionization in the F2 ionospheric layer is considered to follow the equation under the assumption that the layer is electrostatically neutral and that the net rate of attachment1,2 is negligible. In (1), n is the number of electrons/cm.3, α is the coefficient of recombination (cm.3/sec.) and q(t) is Chapman's ionization function3. During darkness q(t) = 0 ; whence upon integration equation (1) becomes

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References

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  2. Jouaust, O. R., "L'Ionosphere" (Paris, 1946).

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  3. Chapman, S., Proc. Phys. Soc., 43, 26 (1931); 43, 483 (1931).

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  5. Loeb, L. B., "Fundamental Processes of Electrical Discharge in Gases", 156 (J. Wiley and Sons, New York, 1939).

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  6. U.S. Nat. Bur. Stand., CRPL F-30, 32; CRPL F-37, 28 (1947).

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GERSON, N. Maintenance of Nocturnal Ionization. Nature 163, 491–492 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163491a0

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