Photogeneration of electrons in dust clouds in near space

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of electron density and electron temperature in a dust cloud, subject to radiation, which causes photoelectric emission of electrons. The analysis is based on charge neutrality and number and energy balance of electrons. Appropriate expressions for the photoelectric emission and mean energy of emitted photoelectrons have been employed. The parametric relationship, corresponding to dust of stainless steel (as an illustration) in the near space environment, with dominant Lyman alpha (1215.7 A) radiation in the extreme ultraviolet part of the spectrum, has been investigated.