Evidence for electrostatic shocks as the source of discrete auroral arcs

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA05p04105· OSTI ID:5889929

Kletzing, C; Cattell, C; Mozer, F S; Akasofu, S; Makita, K

The first simultaneous observations of electrostatic shocks as inferred from their low altitude extensions, electron beams, and visual auroral arcs on the same magnetic field line are presented for three events in 1977. The events are the result of a comparison of electric field and particle data from the S3-3 polar orbiting satellite with all-sky camera data from stations in Alaska and Antarctica. All of the events were at low altitude (<4000 km), showed indications of regions of parallel electric field above the satellite, and were in agreement with potential models reported by other researchers that indicate that the electrostatic shock is one of the mechanisms of auroral particle acceleration.

• Research Organization: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
• OSTI ID: 5889929
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:A5; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALTITUDE
AURORAE
BEAMS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON BEAMS
IONOSPHERE
LEPTON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SHOCK WAVES
VOLTAGE DROP