DE 1 observations of theta aurora plasma source regions and Birkeland current charge carriers

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA07p07503· OSTI ID:5595713

Menietti, J D; Burch, J L ^[1]

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1. Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (United States)

The authors have performed detailed analyses of the DE 1 high-altitude plasma instrument (HAPI) electron and ion data for four passes during which theta auroras were observed. The data indicate that the theta auroras occur on what appear to be closed field lines with particle signatures and plasma parameters that are quite similar to those of the magnetospheric boundary plasma sheet. The field-aligned currents computed from particle fluxes in the energy range 18 eV < E < 13 keV above the theta auroras are observed to be generally downward on the dawnside of the arcs with a narrower region of larger (higher density) upward currents on the duskside of the arcs. These currents are carried predominantly by field-aligned beams of accelerated cold electrons. Of particular interest in regions of upward field-aligned current are downward electron beams at energies less than the inferred potential drop above the spacecraft. These beams may be due to atmospheric secondaries or to ionospheric electrons that have convected into a region of field-aligned electric field.

• OSTI ID: 5595713
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 92:A7; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
POLAR-CAP AURORAE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ACCELERATION
CHARGE CARRIERS
DATA ANALYSIS
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
EXPLORER SATELLITES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
PLASMA SHEET
POLAR REGIONS
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
AURORAE
BEAMS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH PLANET
LEPTON BEAMS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETS
SATELLITES
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)