Electrons in the ionospheric source cone: Evidence for runaway electrons as carriers of downward Birkeland currents

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL009i008p00873· OSTI ID:7063281

Klumpar, D M; Heikkila, W J

Extremely intense field-Aligned fluxes of low energy electrons have been observed with ISIS-2 streaming out of the ionosphere at auroral latitudes. Fluxes in excess of 10/sup 10//cm/sup 2/ sec ster at energies below 500 eV with peak fluxes from 10 to 100 eV were detected at 1400 km. The electrons are very strongly field-aligned, having pitch angles confined within 10/sup 0/ of the magnetic field. Since they are so intense and so highly collimated they cannot be produced by atmospheric backscattering of a primary auroral beam. These electrons are sometimes associated with ionospheric ions that have been accelerated transverse to the magnetic field. They occur in regions of downward field-aligned current, and may thus be carriers of the current, thus far unidentified. We suggest that they are runaway electrons from the ionosphere produced by a downward field-aligned component of the electric field.

• Research Organization: Center for Space Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
• OSTI ID: 7063281
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 9:8; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAL OVAL
BEAMS
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
INCLINATION
IONOSPHERE
LEPTON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RADIATION STREAMING