Correlated electron and X ray measurements of quiet time electron precipitation: a comparative study of Bremsstrahlung production and transport in the atmosphere

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA091iA12p13455· OSTI ID:7021892

Gaines, E E; Imhof, W L; Francis, W E; Walt, M; Rosenberg, T J

Five cases of X ray observations from balloons coordinated with measurements of precipitating electrons were obtained during passes of the polar-orbiting satellite P78-1 near Siple, Antarctica (L--4.1), the launch point of the balloons. The observations, made during a geomagnetically quiet period in late December 1980 to early January 1981, showed small enhancements of the X ray fluxes (E>25 keV) and moderate trapped electron fluxes (E>68 keV) with pitch angle distributions extending into the edge of the loss cone sufficient to produce the approx. <0.5 dB of cosmic noise absorption recorded by the Siple 30-MHz riometer. Bremsstrahlung production and transport in the atmosphere were calculated using the measured electron fluxes, energy spectra, and pitch angle distributions for the source. The X ray fluxes and spectra calculated for the balloon altitudes were in good agreement with those measured from the balloons when the total energy deposition from electrons, E>10 keV, exceeded 2 x 10/sup -3/ erg/cm/sup 2/ s. The observed electron fluxes show that a significant continuous electron precipitation occurs at the western edge of the South Atlantic magnetic anomaly even at times of low geomagnetic activity.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California
• OSTI ID: 7021892
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 91:A12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BALLOONS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ENERGY SPECTRA
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
LOSS CONE
SATELLITES
X-RAY SPECTRA
AIRSHIPS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena