Analytical yield spectrum approach to photoelectron fluxes in the Earth's atmosphere

Abstract

The analytical yield spectrum approach has been applied to calculate the photoelectron fluxes in the earth's atmosphere. The results have been compared with the experimental data of Lee et al. (1980a, b). Good agreement is obtained at low altitudes. At high altitudes our theoretical results are lower than the experimental data in the energy region 18-23 eV by a factor of 1.5 and in the 35-45 eV by a factor of 2. Comparison with theoretical calculations performed by other workers shows that if the same set of inelastic electron impact cross sections had been used, then the photoelectron models of Strickland and Anderson (1983) and Richards and Torr(1983) would be in good agreement with our work and the experimental data. However, the photoelectron fluxes calculated by the model of Victor et al. (1976) is not consistent with the other theoretical models or the experimental data.