Study of plasma irregularities in the high-latitude region. Final report, 19 June 1984-30 September 1986

Technical Report · Mon Oct 27 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6323005

Weimer, D R; Anderson, P B; Greenspan, M E; Basinska-Lewin, E M; James, J H

A summary is given of the work completed under contract F19628-84-C-0126. This work included the engineering of space-qualified instruments, data processing services, and scientific study of high-latitude plasma irregularities and the physics of the aurorae. Design work has been done on a series of plasma instruments for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), the combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES), the Beam Ejection Rocket Technology (BERT) and Ejected Rocket Nosecone to measure induced Emissions (ERNIE) sounding rocket program, and the interactions Measurements Payload for Shuttle (IMPS). The function of the Special Sensor for Ions, Electrons, and Scintillations (SSIES) is described in detail. Computer programs were written to process DMSP magnetometer data, and DMSP plasma density measurements were processed to produce a model of the topside ionosphere. A scientific study was conducted with HILAT data in order to produce an empirical description of high-latitude plasma irregularity production and transport. Data from HILAT has also used to study small-scale processes on the auroral dayside cusp region. Both HILAT and Dynamics Explorer 1 data were used to study auroral electrodynamics in the ionosphere and above to the auroral acceleration region. Research is in progress on a study of the coupling between the magnetotail and the auroral ionosphere using data from both the European Incoherent Scatter radar facility (EISCAT) and the Active Magnetosphere Particle Tracer Explorer Ion Release Module AMPTE IRM.

• Research Organization: Regis Coll., Weston, MA (USA). Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6323005
• Report Number(s): AD-A-179910/5/XAB
• 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
CHARGED PARTICLES
DATA PROCESSING
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EMISSION
FERMIONS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
INSTABILITY
INTERACTIONS
IONOSPHERE
IONS
LATITUDE EFFECT
LEPTONS
MAGNETOMETERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NOSE CONES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
POLAR REGIONS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RADIATION EFFECTS
VARIATIONS