Simulation of ion heating in the topside auroral ionosphere

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL015i013p01534· OSTI ID:6795479

Chiu, Y T; Cladis, J B; Francis, W E

Energization of ions to low energies (less than or equal to10 eV) in the topside ionosphere (300--2000 km altitude) has been observed for a decade. These ionospheric ions have been invoked as the source population of keV ions energized in the auroral magnetosphere (greater than or equal to1 R/sub E/ altitude). If so, the importance of the topside ionosphere as a source of magnetospheric plasma must be assessed quantitatively. To determine the efficiencies of this topside auroral ionospheric source of magnetospheric plasma, Monte Carlo simulations of wave-particle ion heating under realistic topside conditions have been carried out. It is shown that the source efficiency is greatly affected by (1) copious charge exchange interactions between the ions and thermospheric neutrals at an early stage of heating and (2) the observed existence of downward parallel electric potential drops. The composition of warm ions escaping the topside is predicted to be drastically different from the cold ionospheric composition. This study also predicts the existence of a hot (<10 eV) population of thermospheric neutrals in the high latitude topside ionosphere. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California
• OSTI ID: 6795479
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 15:13; ISSN GPRLA
• 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
CHARGE EXCHANGE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
HEATING
HYDROGEN
ION DRIFT
ION TEMPERATURE
IONOSPHERE
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA HEATING