Mechanisms for the source and loss of electrons. Progress report for period ending 30 November 1988

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6168590

Imhof, W L; Datlowe, D W; Voss, H D; Mobilia, J

The objectives are to use available satellite particle and bremsstrahlung x-ray data as well as ground-based measurements to evaluate the source and loss mechanisms for electrons trapped throughout the radiation belts. Effort has concentrated on compiling the existing electron-precipitation data over a wide range of latitudes and comparing the electron data with available wave data. At midlatitudes, extensive effort was devoted to comparing the short duration bursts observed in the SEEP payload on the S81-1 satellite with narrow bursts in the wave data recorded. In several daytime cases, general agreement was obtained between chorus wave emission and electron-precipitation bursts, but one-to-one coincidences were not observed. The association of electron precipitation at nighttime with lightning generated whistlers is much better in several recently uncovered examples as well as earlier ones. A major contribution to the total electron precipitation rate is associated with those injected into the drift-loss cone. Much of the flux observed in the drift-loss cone is associated with the nearly monochromatic waves emitted from VLF transmitters, as indicated by narrow peaks in the energy spectra. Study of electron precipitation at high latitudes has benefited from use of bremsstrahlung x-ray data acquired on the SEEP payload as well as the P78-1 satellite. The x-ray spectrometers on P78-1 were very useful for studying the electron precipitation that regularly occurs near the trapping boundary.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Palo Alto, CA (USA). Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6168590
• Report Number(s): AD-A-203066/6/XAB; LMSC/F-247028
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EMISSION
FERMIONS
GROUND LEVEL
LEPTONS
LEVELS
LIGHTNING
LOSSES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NOISE
PARTICLES
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATION BELTS
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
WHISTLERS
X-RAY SPECTROMETERS