Electron Density and Temperature Rise Time of a Weakly Ionized Oxygen Plasma Subject to an Alternating Electric Field

Macroscopic balance equations for particle number, momentum and energy of the electrons are derived from the Boltzmann equation which describe the time evolution of a weakly ionized oxygen plasma exposed to an alternating homogeneous electric field. The equations are applied to estimate the rise time of electron temperature and density when a rf pulse is emitted from a satellite into the ionospheric plasma.