High-Frequency Breakdown of Air

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Abstract
Kinetic theory is applied to the problem of ionization breakdown of the air surrounding a high-speed vehicle. It is found that electrons are removed primarily by being swept out of the field of the moving antenna, and that in the interesting cases this action predominates over diffusion losses. Breakdown voltages are plotted against altitude for frequencies of 225 Mc, 1 kMc, and 10 kMc. The theory may offer an explanation of some types of signal loss during missile flights.