Effects of oblique double layers on upgoing ion pitch angle and gyrophase

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA089iA05p02842· OSTI ID:6662612

Greenspan, M E

Observations of electrostatic shocks above the auroral zone of upgoing ion beams that show evidence of both parallel and perpendicular acceleration, and of ion conics suggest that the shocks play a role in the energization of the beams and, perhaps, of certain conics. To investigate shock effects on ions, I follow the trajectories of many ions through a very simple model of an oblique double layers, a narrow region of strong electric field with components both parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field. Acceleration through the model oblique layer produces gyrophase bunching, and hence density oscillations. Although it arises from a model that is not self-consistent, this result shows that a consistent oblique double layer model must include temporal variations and/or spatial oscillations in the density or electric field. The oblique double layer increases both the perpendicular and the parallel energy of ions. The amount of perpendicular energization is greater for O/sup +/ than for H/sup +/, in agreement with observations. I examine the parametric dependence of perpendicular energization on initial ion energy, the angle between the electric and magnetic field, and the width of the potential structure.

• Research Organization: Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, University of California, San Diego
• OSTI ID: 6662612
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 89:A5; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
AURORAL ZONES
BEAMS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INCLINATION
ION BEAMS
IONOSPHERE
LAYERS
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
PHASE SPACE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA DENSITY
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
TRAJECTORIES
WAVE PROPAGATION