Theory and observation of a dynamically evolving negative ion plasma

Abstract

The study described here examines the full range of negative-ion chemistry in the upper ionosphere by using current reaction rate data to investigate the many chemical paths SF6-type injections might take in an F region environment. Special attention is given to the conditions required to create heavy negative ions that persist long enough to affect the dynamical properties of the F region. The ambipolar diffusion characteristics of a three-component plasma are described, and estimates are given of the incoherent scatter spectra obtained from such a plasma. Model calculations using a first-order chemical code are defined and tested in order to investigate the actual types of negative-ion plasma capable of being created under nighttime conditions.