Impedance measurements made on a 7.75-Mc rocket-borne antenna during several rocket flights indicate at alti¬tudes above 110 km a capacitance change whose magnitude can be used to determine ambient electron densities. In the 50 to 110 km region the antenna undergoes an of glow dis¬charge resulting in a severe resistive loading and reduction of radiated power. The properties of this breakdown were investigated both theoretically and by laboratory experi¬ments. The use of a dc bias on the antenna was found helpful in preventing breakdown. The knowledge acquired from this project is being applied to the development of improved of probe techniques for the direct measurements of electron densities in the ionosphere.
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