Boundary-layer electron profiles for entry of a blunts slender body at high altitude

New calculations of boundary-layer electron concentration profiles for entry of a blunt-nosed slender body into the earth's atmosphere are compared with previous calculations in which ambipolar diffusion was neglected. The old and new results agree in those flight regimes where ambipolar diffusion is unimportant, but large differences are noted in both peak electron concentration and profile shape at the higher altitudes, where diffusion effects are greatest. The new results are also compared with flight-measured profiles and with calculated profiles for a viscous-shock-layer theory which was recently reported in the literature. The boundary-layer results and the data agree in most respects. Differences which occur between predicted results and the data in the outer parts of the profile are discussed in terms of the effects of aerodynamic heating of the probes.