Inaccuracies in electron density estimates due to surface contamination of Langmuir probes

Electron density in the ionospheric F region estimated by a Langmuir probe has been found to be much lower than those by other techniques. It is shown that this is due to the effect of surface contamination of Langmuir probe electrodes. This apparent reduction effect in electron density is more pronounced for a larger ambient electron density and for a slow sweep-rate of the probe voltage.     

Thermal electron energy distribution measurements in the ionosphere

Results of electron spectrometer and cylindrical Langmuir probe measurements of ionospheric electron energy distribution in the range from about 0·2 eV to 4·0 eV are presented and discussed in this paper.     

Comparative study of Langmuir probe characteristics in different ionospheric conditions

This paper examines the role played by the high energy tail of the electron distribution function on Langmuir probe characteristics. A model is developed to derive the mean energy and the density of the hyperthermal electrons from probe characteristics for two ionospheric rocket flights involving different plasma conditions. The hyperthermal electrons are shown to influence the electron temperature measurement even if they constitute only a small fraction of the total electron concentration. The influence of the geomagnetic field, the collisions and the velocity of the vehicle on the probe data are also examined.     

Evidences of a distorted electron energy distribution in ionospheric plasma

The energy distribution of thermal electrons in the ionospheric plasma was measured by means of a glass-sealed Langmuir probe. Second derivatives of the v-i curves were obtained electrically by using the second harmonic method. The height of the measurement was from 103 to 360 km.Above 130 km the energy distribution of thermal electrons were Maxwellian enough to evaluate electron temperature. Below 130 km the electrons appeared to consist of two groups of electrons of different temperatures. Because of the bi-Maxwellian energy distribution, the apparent electron temperature obtained from the above method differed from that of an electron temperature probe.     

Ionospheric temperature and density measurements by means of spherical double probes

Rocket-borne double probes for electric field measurements can be intermittently operated in special, diagnostic modes involving current bias and low-impedance shunts to obtain information on the properties of the ambient ionospheric plasma along the flight path. Several such modes, and the information that they can provide, are analyzed. For example, in a low-impedance mode with asymmetric bias, the attenuation ratio (i.e. signal amplitude in this mode over the signal amplitude in the electric-field measuring mode) is in a simple way related to the electron temperature of the ambient plasma. The special surface coatings (Aquadag or vitreous carbon) normally used for electric field probes provide very homogeneous surface properties, a feature which also contributes to the reliability of the electron temperature measurements. In addition to electron temperature, the modes analyzed can be used to measure electron density and to give some information on ion temperature. The data from four rocket flights from ESRANGE are discussed in the light of these results. Electron temperature was measured in three of these flights. In all cases the temperature profile is in good agreement with theoretically predicted profiles based on the CIRA 1965 reference atmosphere and the solar illumination prevailing during the respective flights (twilight). Electron density profiles obtained by means of the double probe are in good agreement with the density measured by the Langmuir probe in the two flights for which both kinds of data are available. They are also in agreement with the electron density data available from ionosondes. Finally, pulses occurring when one of the probes passed through the rocket's shadow, are used to determine the photoelectron yield of the probe coatings (Aquadag or vitreous carbon). The values obtained, (7 ± 3) × 10^?6 A/m² for Aquadag and (4 ± 2) × 10^?6 A/m² for vitreous carbon are in good agreement with expectations based on laboratory data and solar Lyman α radiation.     

The relationship of auroral absorption to the electron energy distribution of the plasma

An auroral absorption event in the D-region of the atmosphere has been studied by simultaneous measurements of electron temperature, electron density and hyperthermal electrons with a Langmuir probe, and of radio absorption coefficient by 30 MHz riometers. The absorption of the radio waves cannot be explained only by the enhancement of the electron density but requires that the electron collision frequency v be increased above its normal value by the presence of a high energy tail in the electron distribution function. A model is used to determine the characteristics of the hyperthermal electrons in order to evaluate their contribution to the collision frequency and to the absorption coefficient. Good agreement is found between theoretical and experimental values.     

Time evolution of nonplanar electron acoustic shock waves in a plasma with superthermal electrons

The propagation of cylindrical and spherical electron acoustic (EA) shock waves in unmagnetized plasmas consisting of cold fluid electrons, hot electrons obeying a superthermal distribution and stationary ions, has been investigated. The standard reductive perturbation method (RPM) has been employed to derive the cylindrical/spherical Korteweg-de-Vries-Burger (KdVB) equation which governs the dynamics of the EA shock structures. The effects of nonplanar geometry, plasma kinematic viscosity and electron suprathermality on the temporal evolution of the cylindrical and spherical EA shock waves are numerically examined.     

Theory of instantaneous triple-probe method for direct-display of plasma parameters in a low density flowing collisionless plasma

An exact theory is developed for a triple-probe in an orbit-motion-limited flowing collisionless plasma, i.e. when the charged particle mean free path ? Debye length ? probe radius, and the electron thermal velocity ? probe speed ? ion thermal velocity. Formulae for determining electron temperature and electron density are given for both spherical and cylindrical probes. Analytical results show that the effect of ion temperature on measurements of plasma parameters is small when the probe speed is large.     

Cylindrical and spherical electron acoustic solitary waves in the presence of superthermal hot electrons

Propagation of cylindrical and spherical electron-acoustic solitary waves in unmagnetized plasmas consisting of cold electron fluid, hot electrons obeying a superthermal distribution and stationary ions are investigated. The standard reductive perturbation method is employed to derive the cylindrical/spherical Korteweg-de-Vries equation which governs the dynamics of electron-acoustic solitons. The effects of nonplanar geometry and superthermal hot electrons on the behavior of cylindrical and spherical electron acoustic soliton and its structure are also studied using numerical simulations.     

Propagation of two-solitons in an electron acoustic waves in a plasma with electrons featuring Tsallis distribution

A first theoretical work is presented to study the propagation of two-solitons in an electron acoustic waves (EAWs) within the theoretical framework of the Tsallis statistical mechanics. For this purpose, cylindrical and spherical Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equations are derived for electron acoustic solitary waves (EASWs) in an unmagnetized three species plasma system comprised of cold electrons, immobile ions and hot electrons featuring Tsallis statistics by employing the standard reductive perturbation method. The effects of electron nonextensivity and the fractional number density of the hot electrons relative to that of the cold ones number density (α) on the profiles of two-soliton structures are investigated numerically. Results would be helpful for understanding the localized structures that may occur in space plasmas.     

An evaluation of ionospheric probe performanc—II. The influence of vehicle wake effects on electron density and temperature measurements

The theoretical performance and accuracy of the Sayers type of R.F. capacitance electron density probe are discussed in some detail, and results from two ionospheric flights of this probe are given. After a brief survey of current satellite wake theories, the broad features of a sounding rocket wake are postulated, and its likely extent calculated by a method applicable to almost any rocket and probe configuration. Both electron density and temperature data are shown to correlate well with the rocket attitude and the postulated wake, confirming the existence of a wake and its importance to probe measurements. Evidence for prolonged outgassing from the rocket motors was also found.     

A systematic investigation of several phenomena associated with contaminated Langmuir probes

The first part of this paper uses a contamination layer model to discuss the effects of electrode contamination upon electron temperatures estimated from Langmuir probe measurements. The model assumes that the contamination layer is equivalent to a parallel capacitor and resistor. It predicts two main features associated with electrode contamination. One of them, the so-called “frequency dependence,” concerns the sweep-rate of the probe voltage and is well understood. The other is that the effect of a contaminated electrode is decreased as the density of the ambient plasma is decreased and this will be called “density dependence.” We present several experimental results which verify the above predictions.This paper also presents some other experimental results which may be useful in improving the accuracy of Langmuir probe measurements.Finally the effects of electrode contamination upon electron density estimates and energy distribution measurements are briefly discussed.     

Numerical simulation of electromagnetic emissions in the solar wind plasma with non-thermal electron distribution

Dynamics of fundamental and second harmonic electromagnetic emissions are simulated in the solar wind plasma in the presence of non-thermal electron distribution function in which primary Langmuir waves are driven by an electron beam. The electron velocity distribution function is separated into two distributions representing the distribution of the ambient electrons (Maxwellian) and the suprathermal electrons (non-thermal electrons). The effects of the non-thermal electrons on the generation of primary Langmuir waves, emission rates of the fundamental (F) and harmonic waves (H) and their distributions are investigated. The both of the F and H emissions are sensitive to the characterizes of the non-thermal electrons. It is found that in the presence of non-thermal electrons the production of the Langmuir waves decreases and consequently the levels of fundamental and second harmonic waves are reduced. The emission rate of the fundamental transverse waves decreases and its peak moves slightly toward smaller wave-numbers.     

Asymmetry of the Venus nightside ionosphere: Magnus force effects

A study of the dawn-dusk asymmetry of the Venus nightside ionosphere is conducted by examining the configuration of the ionospheric trans-terminator flow around Venus and also the dawn-ward displacement of the region where most of the ionospheric holes and the electron density plateau profiles are observed (dawn meaning the west in the retrograde rotation of Venus and that corresponds to the trailing side in its orbital motion). The study describes the position of the holes and the density plateau profiles which occur at neighboring locations in a region that is scanned as the trajectory of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) sweeps through the nightside hemisphere with increasing orbit number. The holes are interpreted as crossings through plasma channels that extend downstream from the magnetic polar regions of the Venus ionosphere and the plateau profiles represent cases in which the electron density maintains nearly constant values in the upper ionosphere along the PVO trajectory. From a collection of PVO passes in which these profiles were observed it is found that they appear at neighboring positions of the ionospheric holes in a local solar time (LST) map including cases where only a density plateau profile or an ionospheric hole was detected. It is argued that the ionospheric holes and the density plateau profiles have a common origin at the magnetic polar regions where plasma channels are formed and that the density plateau profiles represent crossings through a friction layer that is adjacent to the plasma channels. It is further suggested that the dawn-dusk asymmetry in the position of both features in the nightside ionosphere results from a fluid dynamic force (Magnus force) that is produced by the combined effects of the trans-terminator flow and the rotational motion of the ionosphere that have been inferred from the PVO measurements.     

Equations of anisotropic hydrodynamics for electron component of the ionospheric plasma

In this paper we have derived a set of transport equations for thermal electron component of the ionospheric plasma in the presence of an anisotropy of the electron energy distribution. Expressions are calculated in a 16-moment approximation for the moments of integrals of elastic and inelastic collisions of thermal electrons with basic neutral ionospheric components. The obtained moments determine variations of the hydrodynamical parameters, such as macroscopic velocity, pressure tensor, viscosity tensor, heat fluxes in respective equations due to collisions. The results have been obtained for an arbitrary degree of electron temperature anisotropy.     

Measurement of electron temperatures in the lower ionosphere by detecting the space potential on the langmuir probe characteristic

Electron temperatures have been determined at Thumba on Nike Apache flight 10.11 (12 March 1967, 1857 hr IST) by the usual retarding potential analysis and by using an a.c. modulation technique for detecting the space potential on the Langmuir probe characteristic. Simultaneous measurements with the two techniques show that the space potential technique gives temperatures which are related to the temperatures obtained from the retarding potential analysis in a manner remarkably similar to the relations obtained by Booker and Smith as well as by Carlson and Sayers between radar temperatures and d.c. probe temperatures. This result is interesting in view of the fact that radar temperatures have been found to be in good agreement with the temperatures obtained by a.c. modulation techniques on satellite borne probes. The space potential technique is simple, requires limited additional electronics, does not make stringent demands on telemetry and can be easily adopted for rocket borne Langmuir probes.     

Thin electron beam propagation in plasmas

The propagation of dense electron beams and the interaction with the ambient plasmas are studied by using two-dimensional electrostatic simulations. When the width of the beam is of the order of electron gyro-radius, the beam electrons move across the magnetic field lines and the beam-plasma interaction becomes prominent with the reduced beam density. When the width of the beam is of the order of ion gyro-radius, the propagation of beam electrons is possible only with the formation of the ion channel. However, since the time scale of the ionic motion is much longer than that of the electronic motion, most of the beam electrons return back to the original beam injection region     

Comparison of theory and in situ observations for electron and ion distributions in the near wake of the explorer 31 and AE-C satellites

Measurements of electron density, plasma potential, and mean ion mass from the Explorer 31 satellite and measurements of ion current, plasma potential, and ion composition from the Atmosphere Explorer C (AE-C) satellite were used in a comparative study with theory regarding the charged particle distribution in the near wake of an ionospheric satellite. The theoretical wake model of Parker (1976) has been used in the study. It is shown that theory and experiment agree fairly well in the angle-of-attack range between 90 and 135°. In that angular range even the neutral approximation (which treats ions as if they were neutral particles thus ignoring the influence of the electric field) gives fair agreement with the measurements. In the maximum rarefaction zone (145 < θ < 180°), however, the theoretical model overestimates the measured ion depletion (AE-C measurements) by several orders of magnitude. A similar conclusion is drawn from the comparison between theory and the Explorer 31 electron measurements where the theory also significantly overestimates the electron depletion. The study indicates that the discrepancies are mainly due to the use of a steady-state theory and of a single ion equation (using a mean ion mass). It is recommended that improved agreement between theory and experiment be obtained by the use of the timedependent Vlasov-Poisson equations with separate equations for the various ion species.     

Theory and operation of the split langmuir probe

An instrument, the split Langmuir probe, has been developed to make in situ measurements of current density and plasma bulk flow. The split Langmuir probe consists of two conducting elements that are separated by a thin insulator that shield each other over a 2π solid angle, and that are simultaneously swept from negative to positive potentials with respect to the plasma. By measuring the current to each plate and the difference current between plates, information can be obtained on the plasma's current density, bulk flow, electron temperature, and density. The instrument was successfully test flown from Fort Churchill on 2 August 1968, with results in reasonable agreement with those from another experiment on the same rocket. Sources of error indicated by these results include plate area differences, plate work function differences, input resistor differences, and probe wake effects. The error signal in the difference current data due to plate work function differences rose to a sharp maximum at plasma potential, which served the useful purpose of precisely marking plasma potential. Possible changes in probe geometry, sweep rate, and telemetry designed to reduce these errors are discussed.