Accession Number:

AD0441211

Title:

THE THEORETICAL HEIGHTB AND DURATIONS OF ECHOES FROM LARGE METEORS,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

STANFORD UNIV CA STANFORD ELECTRONICS LABS

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1962-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

23.0

Abstract:

Mathematical theory of the durations of radio echoes from overdense trails is developed. Included is the dependence of the height distribution of ionization on meteor magnitude, velocity, zenith angle, the form of the attachment law, the height dependence of diffusion coefficient, and an adjustable relation between luminous and ionizing efficiency. It is shown that well defined attachment-free and attachmentcontrolled duration regions exist with different line-density and wavelength dependences. The transition zone is broad, and its location depends strongly on meteor velocity. Normalized duration and line-density parameters are defined in terms of which a single computer-calculated duration vs density relation good for all parameter values is plotted. Bridging formulas approximating the duration relation are derived from asymptotic expressions, and the relation between echoing height and duration or line density is presented. Equations are given relating the exponent of the wavelength to echo duration. Author

Subject Categories:

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE