Electron-ion and ion-ion reaction rate coefficients at low altitudes during a PCA event

Abstract

Based on experimental data from several ESRO PCA rocket flights some considerations are presented regarding the mean values of the electron-ion dissociative recombination coefficient (αd) and the ion-ion neutralization coefficient (αi). The estimates yield values for αd = 10−5 cm3 sec−1 for heights between 60 and 67 km. The data indicate that αi is smaller than αd by a factor of 100.