Electron energy transport coefficients in weakly ionized plasmas: Earth’s lower ionosphere

Abstract

The height profiles for the electron energy transport coefficients such as thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity and diffusion coefficient are obtained considering the lower ionosphere as a weakly plasma region. Assuming the velocity independent average electron-neutral collision frequency. i.e. V(υ) = v¯, the different profiles, corresponding to four average electron density height profiles for the quiet and undisturbed lower ionosphere, are drawn. Their comparison shows that the dependence of these coefficients on temperature. especially in the range E|kT∼ l is not clear. © 1971, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.