Upstream energetic ions and electrons: Bow shock--associated or magnetospheric origin

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA086iA11p09040· OSTI ID:5958641

Scholer, M; Hovestadt, D; Ipavich, F M; Gloeckler, G

We have analyzed 35 proton bursts observed with the Max-Planck-Institut/University of Maryland sensor system on ISEE 3 far upstream of the earth's bow shock. These upstream bursts fall into two distinctive groups: the first group is accompanied by energetic electrons (> or approx. =75 kev) and the proton spectrum extends up to energies > or approx. =300 kev and higher and bends over towards lower energies (< or approx. =30 keV). The second group, which is unaccompanied by energetic electron bursts, exhibits spectra which can be represented very well by exponentials in energy with a mean e-folding energy of approx.15 keV. We have supplemented these data with measurements obtained with an identical sensor system on ISEE 1 close to the bow shock or within the geomagnetic tail. Whenever ISEE 1 is upstream of the bow shock and ISEE 3 observes a burst of group 2, ISEE 1 observes diffuse upstream ions. When ISEE 3 observes bursts of group 1, ISEE 1 observes either no bursts, diffuse ions, or highly anisotropic distributions. It is suggested that group 1 is of magnetospheric origin, while group 2 is bow shock--associated.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Institut fuer extraterrestrische Physik, 8046 Garching, Federal Republic of Germany
• OSTI ID: 5958641
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:A11; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
BARYONS
DIFFUSION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
LEPTONS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL
NUCLEONS
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PROTON DENSITY
PROTONS
SPACE
SPECTRA