Experimental investigation of possible geomagnetic feedback from energetic (0.1 to 16 keV) terrestrial O{sup +} ions in the magnetotail current sheet

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93JA01991· OSTI ID:146573

Lennartsson, O W; Klumpar, D M; Shelley, E G; Quinn, J M ^[1]

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1. Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (United States)

Data from energetic ion mass spectrometers on the ISEE 1 and AMPTE/CCE spacecraft are combined with geomagnetic and solar indices to investigate, in a statistical fashion, whether energized O{sup +} ions of terrestrial origin constitute a source of feedback which triggers or amplifies geomagnetic activity, as has been suggested in the literature, by contributing a destabilizing mass increase in the magnetotail current sheet. The ISEE 1 data (0.1-16 keV/e) provide in situ observations of the O{sup +} concentration in the central plasma sheet, inside of 23 R{sup E}, provide a reference for long-term variations in the magnetosphere O{sup +} content. Statistical correlations between the ion data and the indices, and between different indices, all point in the same direction: there is probably no feedback specific to the O{sup +} ions, in spite of the fact that they often contribute most of the ion mass density in the tail current sheet. 34 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 146573
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A11 Vol. 98; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CORRELATIONS
EV RANGE 100-1000
FEEDBACK
KEV RANGE 01-10
KEV RANGE 10-100
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOTAIL
OXYGEN IONS