Generation of large-scale regions of auroral currents, electric potentials, and precipitation by the divergence of the convection electric field

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA085iA01p00017· OSTI ID:5535360

Lyons, L R

It is shown that discontinuities in the magnetosphere convection electric field E with delxE<0 can generate large-scale regions (of the order of 100 km in width) of magnetic field-aligned currents with associated field-aligned electric potential differences and electron precipitation of the magnitudes and widths observed in auroral regions. Such an electric field discontinuity is known to exist along the evening boundary between sunward and antisunward convection. In addition, such discontinuities may also exist over the polar cap, on account of inhomogeneities in the magnetosheath flow and in regions, such as the Alfven layer, where drifting trapped particles charge separate. The present analysis assumes that the field-aligned current is governed by the free particle motion in dc electric and magnetic fields, and nothing is assumed to inhibit this free particle motion.

• Research Organization: Space Environment Laboratory, NOAA, ERL, Boulder, Colorado 80303
• OSTI ID: 5535360
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 85:A1; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
640203 -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETOSHEATH
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT