Dimant, YakovOppenheim, Meers M.2018-04-022018-04-022017-04-01YS Dimant, MM Oppenheim. 2017. "Formation of plasma around a small meteoroid: 1. Kinetic theory." Journal Of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Volume 122, Issue 4, pp. 4669 - 4696 (28).2169-93802169-9402https://hdl.handle.net/2144/27908This article is a companion to Dimant and Oppenheim [2017] https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA023963.This paper calculates the spatial distribution of the plasma responsible for radar head echoes by applying the kinetic theory developed in the companion paper. This results in a set of analytic expressions for the plasma density as a function of distance from the meteoroid. It shows that at distances less than a collisional mean free path from the meteoroid surface, the plasma density drops in proportion to 1/R where R is the distance from the meteoroid center; and, at distances much longer than the mean‐free‐path behind the meteoroid, the density diminishes at a rate proportional to 1/R2. The results of this paper should be used for modeling and analysis of radar head echoes.4669 - 4696 (28)Science & technologyPhysical sciencesAstronomy & astrophysicsArecibo radar observationsHead echoesUpper atmosphereInitial radiusIonizationArticle10.1002/2017JA0239600000-0002-8581-6177 (Oppenheim, MM)