Dynamics of the large-scale return currents on auroral field lines. Memorandum report

Technical Report · Mon Nov 11 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5936043

Ganguli, S B; Mitchell, H G; Palmadesso, P J

Multimoment fluid plasma simulations have been performed to study the dynamics of auroral field lines in the presence of large-scale field-aligned return currents. The flux tube plasma has a rapid initial response to the onset of current. Electron velocity increases with the application of return current to the system. Electron temperature exhibits adiabatic cooling and temperature anisotropy but the electrons cool much more compared to their polar wind value. Only cold ionospheric electrons are considered in this simulation. The hydrogen ion drift velocity decreases and hydrogen ion temperature increases. The hydrogen ion temperature still exhibits the polar wind characteristics, i.e., the increase in temperature at the lower end of the tube, temperature anisotropy and adiabatic cooling.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5936043
• Report Number(s): AD-A-161697/8/XAB; NRL-MR-5673
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALIGNMENT
ANISOTROPY
AURORAE
CHARGED PARTICLES
COOLING
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FERMIONS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HYDROGEN
IONS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NONMETALS
POLAR REGIONS
SIMULATION
WIND