Analysis of the application of collision cross sections and ion neutral reaction rates in the upper atmosphere modeling

Abstract

Review and analysis of atomic collision data (such as collision cross sections and ion-neutral reaction rates) used in the upper atmospheric modeling for Earth and other planets are presented. This work gives the first complete compendium of the electron impact cross sections and ion neutral reaction rates used in aeronomic studies. This data are presented in an easy-to-use form, allowing atmospheric modelers to analyze what data were used in each existing model and permitting a choice of the best or most recent data to use in future models. An original windows-based program provides a straightforward means for viewing different upper atmosphere models altogether with the reactions and reaction rates used in each model.