Observation of an ionospheric acceleration mechanism producing energetic (keV) ions primarily normal to the geomagnetic field direction

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA082i022p03324· OSTI ID:7090824

Sharp, R D; Johnson, R G; Shelley, E G

O/sup +/ ions with energies of approximately 1 keV have been observed flowing upward out of the ionosphere with a pitch angle distribution having a minimum along the magnetic field direction and maxima in about 130/sup 0/--140/sup 0/ range. The measurements were obtained with an energetic ion mass spectrometer experiment on the satellite 1976-65B at an altitude of about 7600 km in the northern dayside polar cusp. The data are interpreted as resulting from a mechanism which accelerates ambient ionospheric ions in a direction perpendicular to the geomagnetic field.

• Research Organization: Space Sciences Laboratory, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, California 94304
• OSTI ID: 7090824
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 82:22; 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
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY RANGE
INCLINATION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
KEV RANGE
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OXYGEN IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA ACCELERATION
SPECTROMETERS