Energetic particle measurements from within ionospheric structures responsible for auroral acceleration processes

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA084iA02p00480· OSTI ID:6270612

Sharp, R D; Johnson, R G; Shelley, E G

Measurements of energetic electrons (0.07< or =E< or =24keV) and ions (0.5< or =E< or =16keV) on the S3-3 satellite show features which are interpreted in terms of parallel potential drops of up to several-kilovolt magnitude existing simultaneously both above and below the satellite. This leads to the inference that the satellite is within an auroral acceleration region. Two events of this type are examined in which the satellite is in the 7000- to 8000-km altitude range and at auroral latitudes. Both events are interpreted as traversals of an 'inverted V' acceleration region of broad latitudinal width (2/sup 0/-4/sup 0/). In both cases, one can infer a vertical extent to the acceleration region of > or approx. =10/sup 3/ km.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California 94304
• OSTI ID: 6270612
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:A2; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
AURORAE
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DATA
DATA FORMS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ENERGY RANGE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
ISOLATED VALUES
KEV RANGE
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA ACCELERATION