61 research outputs found

    Auroral Plasma Lines: A First Comparison of Theory and Experiment

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    In this preliminary report on low-energy (0.3 to 3 eV) secondary electrons in the auroral E layer (90 to 150 km), we compare intensities of plasma lines observed with the Chatanika radar to theoretical predictions obtained from a detailed numerical model. The model calculations are initiated with a flux of energetic auroral primary electrons which enter the atmosphere and lose energy to electrons, ions, and neutrals through a combination of elastic and inelastic collisions. This flux is chosen in order that the total calculated ionization rate matches one that is deduced from the radar measurements. From these same calculations the steady state secondary electron flux is deduced as a function of altitude, energy, and pitch angle. This flux is used to calculate plasma line intensities which are then compared with observed intensities. Initial comparisons suggest that the plasma line theory, when applied to low altitudes, must include the effect of electron-neutral collisions. When this is done, the good agreement obtained between theory and experiment indicates the promise of this approach for the study of low-energy auroral electrons

    Incoherent-Scatter Radar Observations of Westward Electric Fields, 2

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    In this paper we describe the results of a series of geomagnetic meridian plane radar incoherent scatter plasma transport measurements. From such data the eastward (zonal) component of the electric field can be deduced. The results show that the electric field has an eastward component whenever the discrete auroras are northward of the region of the measurement. The zonal field component turns westward as the discrete auroras move equatorward of the region of the measurement. Thus there is an eastward electric field boundary near the equatorward limit of the discrete aurora, which is the poleward boundary of the diffuse aurora during undisturbed periods. During a particularly disturbed period we also observed three pronounced substorm-related enhancements of the westward-directed zonal field. For midnight and morning sector substorms the enhancements preceded the substorm onset times by 20-30 min. We show from meridian chain all-sky camera data that all three enhancements coincided with equatorward expansions of the auroral oval
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