Modification of electron density in F layer of ionosphere by dust suspension

Abstract

The effect of the suspension of high/low work function dust in the F layer ionospheric plasma has been investigated. On the basis of kinetics formulation of the F-layer dusty plasma, the local electron density is shown to reduce or enhance by inserting fine dust of appropriate physical/material properties. The formulation includes the number and energy balance of the plasma constituents along with the charging of the dust particles; a novel approach to investigate the effect of diffusion on plasma particles in the F-layer has been outlined. The consequence of the physical parameters of dust, namely, number density, material work function, photo-efficiency, and surface temperature, on the charging of dust and local plasma parameters at different ionospheric altitudes in the F layer has been worked out and presented graphically; the significance of plasma diffusion has been highlighted. The modification in local plasma density in the midday F-layer is seen to be sensitive to the dust parameters and altitude profile of the ionospheric plasma. Such modification in the local electron density is certainly of interest for radio wave propagation through the F layer.