Plasma injection and transport in the mid-altitude polar cusp

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL009i009p00921· OSTI ID:6635634

Burch, J L; Reiff, P H; Heelis, R A; Winningham, J D; Hanson, W B; Gurgiolo, C; Menietti, J D; Hoffman, R A; Barfield, J N

DE-1 hot plasma observations in the mid-altitude polar cusp have shown evidence of a significant velocity filtering phenomenon which is consistent with a latitudinally narrow region of plasma injection located at a geocentric distance of about 8 R/sub E/ (in a dipole approximation). Plasma convection from the injection region into the polar cap results in a 'V'-shaped log E vs. ..cap alpha../sub 0/ relation at geocentric distances near 4 R/sub E/. This velocity filtering effect allows the measurement of much smaller flow velocities (approx.10 km/s) than have heretofore been possible with hot plasma measurements. The flows thus determined are consistent with ionospheric flows measured nearly simultaneously by the DE-2 spacecraft, although the magnitudes of the higher altitude flows are higher by a factor of 2 or more than an approx.r/sup 3/2/ dipole-field mapping would predict.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Space Sciences, Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX 78284
• OSTI ID: 6635634
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 9:9; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EXPANSION
HOT PLASMA
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA JETS
POLAR CUSP