Magnetospheric plasma studies using data from the Dynamics Explorer high- and low-altitude plasma instruments. Final report, 15 April 1982-31 December 1985

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5215517

Barfield, J N

The reported research focused primarily upon plasma processes in and near the plasma cusp. The following areas were studied: plasma injection and transport in the mid-altitude polar cusp; observations of counterstreaming electrons at high altitudes; observations of upward electron beams and their relationship to region 1 Birkeland currents; observations of the electron population responsible for the 6300A SAR arc emission, polar rain observations; polar wind observations; and observations of ion and electron acceleration events produced by parallel electric fields. The primary observing platform for the research reported here was Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE-1). The DE-1 High Altitude Plasma Instrument (HAPI) consists of five electrostatic analyzers mounted in a fan-shaped angular array at angles of 45, 78, 90, 102, and 135/sup 0/. with respect to the spacecraft spin axis. Each analyzer makes differential measurements of electrons and positive ions over an energy/charge range of 5 eV/e to 32 keV/e. Energy stepping proceeds at commandable rates of up to 64 sec, providing three-dimensional plasma distribution functions at the six-second spin rate or DE-1.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5215517
• Report Number(s): AD-A-169010/6/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
BEAM ANALYZERS
BEAMS
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTROSTATIC ANALYZERS
INJECTION
INTAKE
IONS
LEPTON BEAMS
MAGNETIC STORMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLASMASPHERE
POLAR CUSP
POLAR REGIONS
RAIN
WIND