Dc and ac electric field, plasma density, plasma temperature, and field-aligned current experiments on the S3-3 satellite

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA084iA10p05875· OSTI ID:5842543

Mozer, F S; Cattell, C A; Temerin, M; Torbert, R B; VonGlinski, S; Woldorff, M; Wygant, J

Measurements of dc electric fields, field-aligned currents, the plasma density, and wave electric fields and density fluctuations have been made for the first time at auroral zone altitudes between 1000 and 8000 km on the S3-3 satellite. The design and operation of the various detectors that made these measurements is described, and some typical scientific results are presented. These include the observations that the high altitude auroral zone plasma density is typically 5-50 particles/cm/sup 3/, that field-aligned currents exceeding the electrostatic ion cyclotron instability threshold are often observed in regions of ion cyclotron wave emission and accelerated upgoing ions, that the auroral zone electric field penetrates the plasmapause to cause deviations from corotation of the plasmasphere, and that the energetic electron high latitude trapping boundary is sometime equatorward of the last closed magnetic field line, is determined by the reversal in the poleward electric field component.

• Research Organization: Space Sciences Laboratory and Physics Department, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
• OSTI ID: 5842543
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:A10; 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
AURORAL ZONES
CURRENTS
DATA ANALYSIS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ION TEMPERATURE
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMASPHERE