Determination of auroral electron energies and fluxes from optical spectral measurements

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i007p01407· OSTI ID:7354693

Shepherd, M M; Eather, R H

This report is based on data obtained from one of 15 flights made by NASA in 1969 in the auroral oval with the instrumented Convair 990 aircraft. A two-channel interference filter photometer with passbands at 4260 and 4280 A measured spectral changes in the intensity distribution of the N/sup +//sub 2/ first negative band at 4278 A. By using a model atmosphere and calculating the vertical distribution of energy deposition the characteristic energy was deduced from measured channel ratios. These results are compared with those obtained from the intensity ratio of the O I 6300-A and N/sup +//sub 2/ 4278-A emissions. The values obtained by the two methods agree reasonably well as a whole. Differences that do appear may be attributed to departures from the simple one-parameter form of the electron energy spectrum. Time delays of a few seconds are observed between short-lived intensity peaks and the following rises in characteristic electron energy. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Department of Computer Science, York University, Downsview, Ontario, Canada
• OSTI ID: 7354693
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 81:7; 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
AURORAL OVAL
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
FLUIDS
FLUX DENSITY
HYDROGEN
IONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NITROGEN IONS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
PHOTOMETERS
SPECTRA