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Detailed Reference Information
Barakat et al. 1983
Barakat, A.R., Schunk, R.W. and St.-Maurice, J.P. (1983). Monte Carlo calculations of the O+ velocity distribution in the auroral ionosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 88: doi: 10.1029/JA088iA04p03237. issn: 0148-0227.

The O+ velocity distribution in the high latitude F region has been calculated by using a Monte Carlo technique. The calculations were restricted to the altitudes where O+-O collisions dominate, i.e., between about 200--350 km. The Monte Carlo calculations confirm the earlier predictions, which were based on a simple relaxation collision model, that the O+ velocity distribution takes a toroidal shape for large convection electric fields. However, the toroidal features appear only for electric fields greater than about 80--100 mV/m when a more rigorous ion neutral collision model is used, whereas the relaxation collision model predicted toroidal features for electric fields greater than about 40 mV/m. Since a toroidal velocity distribution is unstable, ionospheric irregularities can be expected at altitudes between 200--350 km when the convection electric field exceeds 80--100 mV/m.

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Journal of Geophysical Research
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