This study is devoted to an analysis of the ionization and loss of electrons at early stages of discharge development in air at an altitude of 0–12 km. Ionization in an external electric field and background ionization, electron attachment and detachment from atomic and molecular oxygen, charge exchange, and negative ion conversion are considered. The dependence of the process rate constants on pressure is taken into account. It is demonstrated that the electric field at which effective air ionization begins decreases with increasing altitude.
Faculty of Physics, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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