Gradients of solar protons in the high-latitude magnetotail and the magnetospheric electric field

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i004p00562· OSTI ID:7354687

Palmer, I D; Higbie, P R; Hones, Jr, E W

Energetic particle detectors on the Vela satellites have the capability of making three-dimensional measurements of particle fluxes. Observations, using these instruments, of directional anisotropies of solar proton flux in the high-latitude magnetotail (i.e., the lobes of the magnetotail) are reported. The anisotropies last for several minutes and are associated with sudden changes in the intensity of the proton flux. The measurements suggest that the gradients in the proton flux are perpendicular to the magnetic field and move past the satellites toward the midplane of the tail, i.e., toward the plasma sheet. These observations constitute the first measurements of the E x B drift of energetic protons in the tail lobes and provide a means for measuring the associated electric field. Measured values of the electric field fall in the range approx.0.5-1.3 mV/m, which would drive convection at approx.30--80 km/s in a typical magnetotail magnetic field of approx.15 ..gamma... The observations are consistent with an open model of the magnetosphere which has magnetic field lines from the earth's polar regions extending into the solar wind and, along with solar proton fluxes that are associated with these field lines, being convected into the magnetosphere as they are pulled downstream by the solar wind. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74102
• OSTI ID: 7354687
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:4; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
BARYONS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HADRONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL
NUCLEONS
PLASMA SHEET
PROTON PRECIPITATION
PROTONS
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR PARTICLES
SOLAR PROTONS
SOLAR RADIATION
SOLAR WIND
STELLAR RADIATION