Ghost images of auroral X ray sources observed by directional balloon-borne detectors

Journal Article · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA02p01508· OSTI ID:5916387

Ogura, Koichi ^[1]; Kodama, Masahiro ^[2]

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1. Nihon Univ., Narashino-shi (Japan)
2. Yamanashi Medical College (Japan)

Diffusion characteristics of auroral X rays propagating through the atmosphere have been investigated by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. The results are used to estimate the defocusing effect of multiple photon scatterings on auroral X ray images detected at balloon altitudes. It is predicted that the auroral X ray image at an atmospheric depth of 6-14 g/cm{sup 2} is occasionally accompanied by a spurious ghost image in the zenith when an auroral X ray source near the zenith is viewed by a collimated detector inclined with respect to the zenith. The ghost image is enhanced with increasing zenith angle of the collimator axis. The maximum spurious contribution occurs for a collimator with {plus minus}20{degree} opening angle and 40{degree} zenith angle. The magnitude of the spurious contribution also depends on the atmospheric depth and the threshold energy of the detector.

• OSTI ID: 5916387
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A2; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AIRSHIPS
AURORAE
BALLOONS
COLLIMATORS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUIPMENT
IMAGES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PHOTONS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
WAVE PROPAGATION
X RADIATION
X-RAY EQUIPMENT
X-RAY SOURCES