Physics of Microwave Discharges

This monograph provides a comprehensive and unique account of the creation of artificially ionized layers using powerful radio waves in the middle and upper atmosphere.

The major physical mechanisms associated with the formation of the ionized region are studied in detail. The main part of the authors' research is devoted to the problems associated with the breakdown mechanisms for radio frequency discharges in air. A special chapter deals with breakdown in intersecting pulsed beams and the effects of recombination, diffusion and atmospheric winds on the stability of the structure. The kinetics of the plasma produced are also described.

The authors also examine the possibilities of inducing changes in the chemical composition of the upper atmosphere by means of radio frequency heating, with promising effects on the concentration of constituents such as ozone. They investigate the feasibility of using this phenomenon for "ozone healing" in connection with the ozone holes in the polar regions.