Characteristics of the high-latitude ionospheric particle sources - transversely accelerated ions (TAI) at 1400 km

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Adv. Space Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6019672

Klumpar, D M

The auroral acceleration process that produces transversely accelerated ions is studied in detail using data primarily from a single auroral oval crossing of the ISIS-2 satellite at 1400 km. This data set is of significance because a special operational mode of the soft particle spectrometers allowed unusual temporal and pitch angle resolution to be obtained. It is concluded that transversely accelerated ions having a sharp cutoff in pitch angle were accompanied by the emission of a VLF saucer and the simultaneous occurrence of an upstreaming electron beam. In contrast to the very flat pitch angle distribution of the ions, the highly field-aligned upstreaming electrons (well inside the loss cone) accompanying the ions seem to imply the existence of downward directed electric field parallel to B below 1400 km with net potentials in excess of 200 volts. The occurrence of such field-aligned electrons and VLF saucers in association with some transversely accelerated ions provides additional information on the acceleration process and reveals the complexity of the active flux tube. 9 references.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Richardson
• OSTI ID: 6019672
• Report Number(s): CONF-8406167-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Adv. Space Res.; (United States) Journal Volume: 5:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
AURORAE
AURORAL OVAL
AURORAL ZONES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ION DENSITY
IONOSPHERE
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SPECTROSCOPY