Direct observations of dumping of electrons at 1000-kilometer altitude and high latitudes

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ067i004p01227· OSTI ID:4831440

O'Brien, B. J.

Quiescent dumping of electrons above 40 kev of the order of 10⁴ particles (cm² sec ster)^-1 was detected by the Injun l satellite at about 1000 km and high latitudes around July 1, 1961. In 16 passes between 230 and 340 deg E, the angular distribution of electrons about the magnetic vector B showed there was dumping in every one of 8 passes between 1200 and 1500 local time, and in only one of 8 passes between 1900 and 2300. When there was no dumping, the directional intensity of electrons at ~20 deg from the normal to B was less than 1% of that normal to B. When there was dumping, the corresponding value was about 100%, and the intensity at about 50 deg from the normal to B was about 10% of that normal to B. Appreciable intensities of electrons were backscattered. Dumping was seen over very wide ranges of latitude between L ~ 2 and L ~ 10 and was uncorrelated with K_p The dumped electrons may be either new, freshly injected, or accelerated particles, or they may be old, formerly trapped particles, which were perturbed in their orbits. The observations indicate that acceleration mechanisms must occur frequently above 1000 km.

• Research Organization: State Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-16-018294
• OSTI ID: 4831440
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 67; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
COSMIC RADIATION
DETECTION
EARTH
ELECTRONS
ENERGY RANGE
GEOMAGNETIC COORDINATES
KEV RANGE
LEVELS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
PRODUCTION
RADIATION BELTS
REFLECTION
SATELLITES
SCATTERING