Acceleration of hydrogen ions and conic formation along auroral field lines

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA088iA02p00899· OSTI ID:5987594

Okuda, H; Ashour-Abdalla, M

Electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence and the formation of ion conics at low altitudes (approx.1500 km) along auroral field lines have been investigated analytically and by plasma numerical simulations. Ion cyclotron waves are assumed to be driven unstable by the upgoing cold ionospheric electrons associated with the downward auroral current. When the electron drift speed is comparable to the electron thermal speed, it was found that the large-amplitude (ephi/T/sub e/roughly-equal1) coherent (..omega.. = ..cap omega../sub i/) ion cyclotron waves should exist along auroral field lines at low altitudes extending a few hundred kilometers. Ion conics are associated with ion cyclotron turbulence, and the ion bulk temperature is found to increase by a factor of 10 from the initial ionospheric temperature, while the temperature of the high-energy tail can be as much as 100 times the ionospheric temperature. Theory and simulations are in good agreement.

• Research Organization: Plasam Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08544
• OSTI ID: 5987594
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 88:A2; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
AURORAL ZONES
BEAMS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DRIFT
FUNCTIONS
ION BEAMS
ION PLASMA WAVES
ION TEMPERATURE
ION WAVES
IONOSPHERE
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA WAVES