The Production of Ions and Electrons by Meteoritic Processes

Abstract

The ionization efficiency parameter, β , for meteoric atoms is discussed in the light of experimental results for ionization cross-sections. It is shown that β varies rapidly with velocity v , as v n , where n ~ 5. The values obtained are in good agreement with other recent determinations. Some inferences are made on this basis and it is shown that the distribution of ions in the upper atmosphere is not consistent with the idea that they are produced solely by this mechanism, thus the incoming meteors produce a source of mainly neutral atoms. However, it is shown that this ionization could be an important source for night time sporadic- E ionization.