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Title: Global characteristics of the cold plasma in the equatorial plasmapause region as deduced from the geos 1 mutual impedance probe

Abstract

Thermal plasma parameters derived by the muntal impedance experiment on GEOS are described. The experiment is well suited to the measurement of the electron density and temperature of the outer plasmasphere (when kT/sub e//N/sub e/<1.6 eV/cm/sup 3/). This investigation of the whole set of data supplied by GEOS 1 (4<8, 0000--2400 MLT) covers three main regions: the plasmasphere, an intermediate region of ionospheric refilling, and the plasma trough. In the plasmasphere, we observe profiles with N/sub e/proportionalL/sup -4/, while T/sub e/ stands around 10,000 /sup 0/K or less. The intermediate region, situated next to the plasmasphere and above it, is always present in the day sector, where the ionospheric source plays a leading part. In that zone, the plasma parameters, poorly known up to now, exhibit N/sub e/ values approx.2 to 20 cm/sup -3/, together with T/sub e/ values of 20,000 /sup 0/K on the average, dispersed over a 5,000 to 100,000 /sup 0/K range during disturbances. In the night sector, the intermediate region is seen only during the recovery phase. The region of depleted density is observed at the higher L values in the night and morning MTL sectors. There, plasmas out of Maxwellian equilibrium are seen under disturbedmore » conditions. The dynamic response of the thermal plasma parameters to temporal variations of the a/sub m/ index of magnetic activity follows a known scenario as concerns N/sub e/, making apparent a night-to-day, MTL dependent time delay. As concerns T/sub e/, the dynamical study reveals striking features, such as the persistance of the T/sub e/ modifications into the dusk sector, the interpretation of which remains to be clarified.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Universite d'Orlens et Centre de Recherches en Physique de l'Environment, 45045 Orleans, Cedex, France
OSTI Identifier:
5496480
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 87:A2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; PLASMAPAUSE; ELECTRON DENSITY; DAILY VARIATIONS; ELECTRON TEMPERATURE; GEOS SATELLITES; IONOSPHERE; PLASMASPHERE; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; MAGNETOSPHERE; PLANETARY IONOSPHERES; SATELLITES; VARIATIONS; 640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral, Ionospheric, & Magetospheric Phenomena

Citation Formats

Decreu, P M.E., Beghin, C, and Parrot, M. Global characteristics of the cold plasma in the equatorial plasmapause region as deduced from the geos 1 mutual impedance probe. United States: N. p., 1982. Web. doi:10.1029/JA087iA02p00695.
Decreu, P M.E., Beghin, C, & Parrot, M. Global characteristics of the cold plasma in the equatorial plasmapause region as deduced from the geos 1 mutual impedance probe. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/JA087iA02p00695
Decreu, P M.E., Beghin, C, and Parrot, M. 1982. "Global characteristics of the cold plasma in the equatorial plasmapause region as deduced from the geos 1 mutual impedance probe". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/JA087iA02p00695.
@article{osti_5496480,
title = {Global characteristics of the cold plasma in the equatorial plasmapause region as deduced from the geos 1 mutual impedance probe},
author = {Decreu, P M.E. and Beghin, C and Parrot, M},
abstractNote = {Thermal plasma parameters derived by the muntal impedance experiment on GEOS are described. The experiment is well suited to the measurement of the electron density and temperature of the outer plasmasphere (when kT/sub e//N/sub e/<1.6 eV/cm/sup 3/). This investigation of the whole set of data supplied by GEOS 1 (4<8, 0000--2400 MLT) covers three main regions: the plasmasphere, an intermediate region of ionospheric refilling, and the plasma trough. In the plasmasphere, we observe profiles with N/sub e/proportionalL/sup -4/, while T/sub e/ stands around 10,000 /sup 0/K or less. The intermediate region, situated next to the plasmasphere and above it, is always present in the day sector, where the ionospheric source plays a leading part. In that zone, the plasma parameters, poorly known up to now, exhibit N/sub e/ values approx.2 to 20 cm/sup -3/, together with T/sub e/ values of 20,000 /sup 0/K on the average, dispersed over a 5,000 to 100,000 /sup 0/K range during disturbances. In the night sector, the intermediate region is seen only during the recovery phase. The region of depleted density is observed at the higher L values in the night and morning MTL sectors. There, plasmas out of Maxwellian equilibrium are seen under disturbed conditions. The dynamic response of the thermal plasma parameters to temporal variations of the a/sub m/ index of magnetic activity follows a known scenario as concerns N/sub e/, making apparent a night-to-day, MTL dependent time delay. As concerns T/sub e/, the dynamical study reveals striking features, such as the persistance of the T/sub e/ modifications into the dusk sector, the interpretation of which remains to be clarified.},
doi = {10.1029/JA087iA02p00695},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5496480}, journal = {J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 87:A2,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}