GAS DISCHARGE IN THE IONOSPHERE OF THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED EARTH

Abstract

A mathematical model is proposed for taking into account contactless heating of electrons by a long-range electric field in the region of charged structures, in particular, in the upper layers of the atmosphere of the negatively charged earth. Based on the Einstein-Smoluchowski (or rather Nernst-Townsend) relation, Te = e ⋅ De/μeα(E/N)0.86, we used the experimental values of the particle number density of air, N, to calculate for the first time a possible temperature profile of electrons, Te, in the mesosphere and ionosphere as a function of the charge of the Earth and the distance to its surface. It is found that at altitudes of about 36 km above the Earth surface negatively charged up to 500 000 C, the E/N parameter reaches breakdown values (100 Td), and, therefore, a self-sustained discharge is initiated up at these altitudes. At these altitudes, a compensation layer of a positive space charge can develop (standing electric field shock wave). The processes of direct ionization of air particles by electrons in an electric field of the negatively charged earth are also important in plasma production processes. Calculations of the parameters of electrons in the atmosphere and the ionosphere are compared with the available experimental data. On the basis of a mathematical model, the profile (from height above sea level) of the electron concentration ne is obtained analytically for the first time for the mesosphere and ionosphere of the negatively charged earth. Comparison of these results with experimental observations shows that the transition profiles of the electron concentration in the mesosphere and the Earth’s ionosphere are determined by the processes of ambipolar drift caused by different dependences of the drift velocities of electrons and ions on the electric field intensity. The results are of practical interest for developers of such systems as GLONASS and GPS.