Recombination Coefficient in the F-Regions: a Possible New Process of Ionization of Nitrogen Molecules

Abstract

IT is now generally recognized^1,2 that the high day-time rate of disappearance of electrons in the E- and F-regions of the ionosphere cannot be fully explained by the negative-ion formation theory of Bates and Massey³, which takes account of the electron loss mainly due to attachment. The high value of the recombination coefficient in the E-region and in the upper parts of the D-region has recently been explained by A. P. Mitra and Jones⁴ on the basis of dissociative recombination of electrons with O₂ ⁺ and NO⁺ ions, which are believed to be the principal ionized constituents at the heights of these regions. It may therefore be inquired if the process of dissociative recombination may not also be operative in the high F-regions (F ₁ and F ₂) and be the determining factor for the disappearance of electrons.