Comparison of incoherent scatter radar and photometric measurements of the energy distribution of auroral electrons

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA083iA04p01665· OSTI ID:6779614

Vondrak, R R; Sears, R D

Simultaneous radar and photometric measurements of the mean energy of precipitating electrons have been made at Chatanika, Alaska, during a variety of auroral conditions. The radar measurements of the altitude profile of electron density were used to obtain the differential energy spectrum of the precipitating flux. Photometric measurements of 4278- and 6300-A emission intensities over the same region and time span were analyzed in terms of the mean energy parameter, as was previously described by Rees and Luckey (1974). The mean energy parameter values determined by the two techniques show good agreement, which tends to confirm quantitatively the theoretical predictions of Rees and Luckey. The energy parameter range measured was approx.3--15 keV, and the auroral intensities ranged from about IBC I to IBC III (<1 to approx.10 kR of 4278-A intensity).

• Research Organization: Radio Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025
• OSTI ID: 6779614
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 83:A4; 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
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
INCOHERENT SCATTERING
KEV RANGE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHOTOMETRY
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SCATTERING
SPECTRA