Electron collection enhancement arising from neutral gas jets on a charged vehicle in the ionosphere

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA03p02469· OSTI ID:5255467

Gilchrist, B E; Banks, P M; Neubert, T; Williamson, P R ^[1]; Myers, N B; Raitt, W J ^[2]; Sasaki, Susumu ^[3]

---

1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
2. Utah State Univ., Logan (United States)
3. Inst. for Space and Astronautical Sciences, Kanagawa (Japan)

Observations of current collection enhancements due to cold nitrogen gas control jet emissions from a highly charged, isolated rocket payload in the ionosphere have been made during the cooperative high altitude rocket gun experiment (CHARGE) 2 using an electrically tethered mother/daughter payload system. The current collection enhancement was observed on a platform (daughter payload) located 100 to 400 m away from the main payload firing an energetic electron beam (mother payload). The authors interpret these results in terms of an electrical discharge forming in close proximity to the daughter vehicle during the short periods of gas emission. The results indicate that it is possible to enhance the electron current collection capability of positively charged vehicles by means of deliberate neutral gas releases into an otherwise undisturbed space plasma. The results are also compared with recent laboratory observations of hollow cathode plasma contactors operating in the ignited mode.

• OSTI ID: 5255467
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:A3; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BEAM INJECTION
BEAMS
CHARGE COLLECTION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON BEAMS
EVALUATION
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
LEPTON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
ROCKETS
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES