AMPTE lithium tracer releases in the solar wind: Observations inside the magnetosphere

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1986 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA091iA02p01339· OSTI ID:6101766

Krimigis, S M; Haerendel, G; Gloeckler, G; Mcentire, R W; Shelley, E G; Decker, R B; Paschmann, G; Valenzuela, A; Potemra, T A; Scarf, F L

A release of approximately 3.3 x 10/sup 25/ lithium atoms was made on September 11 and again on September 20, 1984, by the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE) Ion Release Module (IRM) spacecraft at a geocentric distance of roughly-equal18.8 R/sub e/ in the subsolar direction, creating an ion cloud approximately 4 R/sub e/ in diameter after one hour. Detailed modeling of ion propagation to the bow shock and transport through the magnetosheath shows that > or approx. =20% (September 11) and > or approx. =50% (September 20) of the ions mapped to a 36-R/sub e//sup 2/ area around the stagnation point on the magnetopause. The AMPTE Charge Composition Explorer (CCE) satellite, located inside the magnetosphere with an apogee of 8.78 R/sub e/ and inclination of 4.8/sup 0/, at a local time of about 1300 MLT, was instrumented to detect lithium ions over the energy range from a few eV to > or approx. =6 MeV. Detailed analysis of the data for the several hours following the lithium releases shows that no measurable lithium ion fluxes reached the location of the CCE; upper limits to the lithium flux at L> or approx. =8 are about 50 to 70 (cm/sup 2/-sec-sr)/sup -1/ in the range 25--300 keV/e (Li/H> or approx. =2 x 10/sup -5/), and about 0.1 to 1 (cm/sup 2/-sec-sr)/sup -1/ in the range 45--100 keV/nucleon (Li/Hroughly-equal1 x 10/sup -6/). The implications of these results are discussed in the context of current theoretical models of plasma entry into and transport within the magnetosphere.

• Research Organization: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland
• OSTI ID: 6101766
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 91:A2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
SOLAR WIND
ENERGY LEVELS
LITHIUM IONS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING METHODS
PLASMA
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE VEHICLES
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
IONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
VEHICLES
640302* - Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory