Abstract

Altitude profiles for O + ion velocity distribution functions, O + parallel and perpendicular temperatures, O + temperature anisotropy, O + –O + and O + –O collision frequencies and O + temperature partition coefficients β || and β ⊥ are obtained in the auroral ionosphere (150 km–500 km). A Monte Carlo simulation was used to investigate the behavior of O + ions that are E × B drifting through a background of neutrals O, with the effects of O + –O resonant charge exchange and polarization interactions as well as O + –O + Coulomb collisions. We have found, for low altitudes, the effect of O + –O + Coulomb collisions is negligible and, as electric field increases, O + –O collision rate increases, therefore non-Maxwellian features of f O + appeared and becomes pronounced at large electric fields, O + temperature increases, ν O + –O increases, ν O + –O + decreases, O + temperature partition coefficients β || decreases and β ⊥ increases. As altitude increases, the effect of O + –O + Coulomb collision becomes si...

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