A diffusion model for the electron density distribution along the earth's magnetic field in an F-region plasma cloud

Abstract

A diffusive equilibrium model for the electron density distribution along the Earth's magnetic field is presented for a plasma cloud generated in the F-region of the ionosphere. The underlying analytic formulation is analogous to the one developed earlier by Bannister and Davis for the case of a neutral contaminant released in the upper atmosphere. The shape of the electron density profile according to this model is characterized by an exponential form in the topside, a Gaussian in the vicinity of the concentration maximum and a rather rapid cut off due to diminishing effectiveness of the particle fall and diffusion in the bottom side of the peak. The computed distributions are compared with those derived from the Thomson scatter radar observations collected during a recent series of barium release experiments conducted in Florida. The model and the measured profiles are found to be in good agreement.