Study of the continuous/diffuse aurora using particle observations from the Dynamics Explorer satellites. Final technical report, 1 January 1985-17 October 1988

Technical Report · Mon Oct 17 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6144861

Sharber, J R; Winningham, J D

The continuous/diffuse (C/D) aurora and related auroral studies are used as the primary data observations from instruments on the Dynamics Explorer satellites. These satellites carried particle-detection instrumentation referred to as the High Altitude Plasma Instrument (HAPI) on the DE-1 and the Low Altitude Plasma Instrument (LAPI) on DE-2, and together provided high-resolution spectral and angular measurements of electron and positive ions at altitudes between 500 km and 4 earth radii above the auroral region. The objectives of the research are: (1) to provide a thorough description of the particle populations which produce the quiet and activated continuous/diffuse aurora, (2) to attempt to determine what mechanisms act within the plasma sheet and on supra-auroral field lines to precipitate the continuous/diffuse auroral particles, (3) to attempt to find a simple and effective way to model the effects of this aurora and (4), added during the first year of the contract, applying the Dynamics Explorer database to selective investigations of of the high-latitude auroral regions. Research has included a description of quiet and disturbed diffuse auroral particles, a study of particles and waves in the diffuse aurora, an attempt to determine the mechanisms of the precipitation, and studies of polar arcs, ionization, and convection in the high-latitude regions.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6144861
• Report Number(s): AD-A-202241/6/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CONVECTION
DETECTION
DIFFUSION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
IONIZATION
MASS TRANSFER
POLAR REGIONS
PROGRESS REPORT