Statistical study of inverted-V events - a comparison between experiment and theory. [On electron precipitation in auroral oval]

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Adv. Space Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5881029

Bosqued, J M; Maurel, C; Reme, H; Sauvaud, J A; Kovrazhkin, R A

A detailed study of the distribution and of the internal structure of the inverted-V electron precipitation commonly detected in the 500-2000 km altitude range aboard the AUREOL-3 satellite is presented. These structured precipitations are statistically observed inside the auroral oval with a maximum occurrence in the nightside sector. They correspond to primary electron fluxes peaked at energies generally below 10 keV. It is shown that, as predicted by kinetic theories, most inverted-V structures present a clear relationship between the field-aligned current density carried by the 1-20 keV primary electrons and the potential drop inferred from particle distribution functions. Furthermore the study demonstrates the existence of strong electron heating, related to the energy gain, when the current density exceeds some threshold of about 1-5 microamps/sq m. 19 references.

• Research Organization: Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements, Toulouse, France; Institut Kosmicheskikh Issledovanii, Moscow, USSR
• OSTI ID: 5881029
• Report Number(s): CONF-8406167-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Adv. Space Res.; (United States) Journal Volume: 5:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAL OVAL
AURORAL ZONES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CURRENT DENSITY
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
HEATING
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES