Relationship between field-aligned currents and inverted-V parallel potential drops observed at midlatitudes
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Geophysical Research
- Tohoku Univ., Sendai (Japan)
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara (Japan)
The authors look at the inverted-V acceleration region which is argued to exist at altitudes of several thousand kilometers. An adiabatic plasma theory predicts a linear relationship between the field-aligned current density, and the potential drop along field lines. The authors look at data from ion diagnostics and magnetometers on the Akebono (Exos D) satellite. The satellite allows measurements of potential drops above and below its orbit, as well as measuring current densities from magnetometer data. This allows the authors to infer values for the linear field-aligned conductance K, relating current density and potential drop. They make an independent estimate of K from electron density and kinetic energy measurements, based on observations of electron precipitation. They then look at the latitude dependence of these conductivities, and infer that low energy electrons must make a large contribution to upward directed current flow in the inverted-V region.
- OSTI ID:
- 227137
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A10 Vol. 100; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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