Effect of a pulsed x-ray source on the optics of the upper atmosphere, taking into account the Auger effect

This paper generalizes the results of taking into account the Auger effect when a pulsed x-ray source, which is conventionally used to approximate a h igh-altitude nuclear explosion, acts on the upper atmosphere of the earth. It is shown that taking this into account almost doubles the total addition al optical excitation, substantially altering the model concepts concerning the altitude distribution of the perturbation region and the physics of th e relaxation processes. (C) 1999 The Optical Society of America. [S1070-976 2(99)00204-3].