Heating ions to superthermal energies in the topside ionosphere by electrostatic ion cyclotron waves
Journal Article
·
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
The soft particle spectrometer on the Isis 2 spacecraft, which is in a nearly circular orbit at 1400-km altitude, frequently observes fluxes of upcoming ions with a conical pitch angle distribution and pitch angles usually in the range 90/sup 0/--135/sup 0/. The upcoming ions are usually observed near the boundaries of the auroral precipitation zone and primarily in the winter nighttime at the Isis 2 altitude. The observations are interpreted in terms of electrostatic ion cyclotron waves, which heat the ions to superthermal energies transverse to the earth's magnetic field. Subsequently, the ions are accelerated away from the earth by the earth's magnetic field.
- Research Organization:
- Danish Space Research Institute, Lundtoftevej 7, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
- OSTI ID:
- 5865609
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:A8; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Transversely accelerated ions: An ionospheric source of hot magnetospheric ions
Observations of transverse ion acceleration in the topside auroral ionosphere
Superthermal ion signatures of auroral acceleration processes
Journal Article
·
Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5755318
Observations of transverse ion acceleration in the topside auroral ionosphere
Journal Article
·
Fri Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1992
· Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5361838
Superthermal ion signatures of auroral acceleration processes
Journal Article
·
Thu Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1985
· J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5887097