Research in space physics at the University of Iowa

Current investigations relating to energetic particles and the electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields associated with the earth, the sun, the moon, the planets, comets, and the interplanetary medium are reported. Primary emphasis is on observational work using a wide diversity of intruments on satellites of the earth and the moon and on planetary and interplanetary spacecraft, and on phenomenological analysis and interpretation. Secondary emphasis is given to closely related observational work by ground based radio-astronomical and optical techniques, and to theoretical problems in plasma physics as relevant to solar, planetary, and interplanetary phenomena

Research in space physics at the University of Iowa

Various research projects in space physics are summarized. Emphasis is placed on: (1) the study of energetic particles in outer space and their relationships to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields associated with the earth, the sun, the moon, the planets, and interplanetary medium; (2) observational work on satellites of the earth and the moon, and planetary and interplanetary spacecraft; (3) phenomenological analysis and interpretation; (4) observational work by ground based radio-astronomical and optical techniques; and (5) theoretical problems in plasma physics. Specific fields of current investigations are summarized

Research in space physics at the University of Iowa

Energetic particles in outer space and their relationship to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields associated with the earth, sun, moon, and planets, and the interplanetary medium are investigated. Special attention was given to observations of earth and moon satellites and interplanetary spacecraft; phenomenological analysis and interpretation were emphasized. Data also cover ground based on radio astronomical and optical techniques and theoretical problems in plasma physics as revelant to solar planetary and interplanetary phenomena

Angular distributions of electrons of energy E sub e greater than 0.06 MeV in the Jovian magnetosphere

The results of an angular distribution analysis of the electron intensity data recorded near Jupiter for the period from 26 November to 14 December 1973 are presented. The data were from three directional particle detectors with effective integral electron energy thresholds of 0.06, 0.55, and 5.0 Mev, respectively. It was found that the central core of the magnetosphere, within 12 Jupiter radii, is dominated by pitch angle distributions strongly peaked at alpha = 90 deg, while the region from 12 to 25 Jupiter radii shows bidirectional and approximately equal maxima at alpha = 0 and 180 deg. Bidirectional angular distributions in the magnetodisc out to the radius of the magnetopause strongly suggest quasi-trapping on closed field lines as the predominant situation. Substantial field aligned, unidirectional streaming was detected on only two occasions. No distinctive effects on angular distributions were discerned near the L-shells of satellites

Anisotropies in the interplanetary intensity of solar protons E sub p 0.3 MeV

From the data on solar protons with energy 0.3 MeV obtained by Explorer 35 since July 1967, ten events were selected for the study of intensity vs time and of angular distributions of intensity in interplanetary space near the earth. The bases of selection were that the events be of adequate intensity for statistically satisfactory study and that they be attributable to a single solar flare so that their time histories were not complicated by overlapping emissions of particles. The principal findings for these events are presented

Research in Space Physics at the University of Iowa

Currently active projects conducted to extend knowledge of the energetic particles and the electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields associated with Earth, other celestial bodies, and the interplanetary medium are summarized. These include investigations and/or instruments for Hawkeye 1; Pioneers 10 and 11; Voyagers 1 and 2; ISEE; IMP 8; Dynamics Explorer; Galileo; Spacelab and Orbital flight test missions; VLBI; and the International Solar Polar mission. Experiments and instruments proposed for the future international comet mission, the origin of plasmas in the Earth's environment mission, and the NASA active magnetospheric particle tracer experiment are mentioned

On the acceleration of ions by interplanetary shock waves. 3: High time resolution observations of CIR proton events

Observations within + or - 3 hours of corotating interaction region (CIR) shock waves of proton intensities, pitch angle distribution and crude differential energy spectra of the range of 0.6 E sub p 3.4 MeV are presented. The principle result is the evidence for the persistent flow of particles away from the shock. The observations are found to be in good agreement with the hypothesis of local interplanetary shock acceleration by the shock drift and compression mechanisms. The same set of observations strongly suggest that transit time damping does not play an important role in the acceleration of protons to 1 MeV in the immediate vicinity of CIR shocks

Study of energetic solar particle events of 18 November 1968, 25 February 1969, and 30 March 1969

The solar particle events of 18 November 1968, 25 February 1969, and 30 March 1969 were studied using data from the detector system aboard the lunar orbiting satellite Explorer 35. Protons, alpha particles, and Z or = 3 nuclei were registered in the solid state detector of the system. Interplanetary propagation, particle anisotropy, and the intensity ratios of protons to alpha particles and of alpha particles to C, N, and O nuclei above a common specific energy of 0.5 MeV/nucleon were studied. Diffusion coefficients and decay constants for the three events are given, as well as magnitudes and directions of anisotropies

Research in space physics at the University of Iowa, 1982

The energetic particles and the electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields associated with the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the planets, comets, and the interplanetary medium are examined. Matters under current investigation are following: energetic particles trapped in the Earth's magnetic field, origin and propagation of very low frequency radio waves and electrostatic, the magnetospheres of Jupiter, Saturn and prospectively Uranus and Neptune, diffusion of energetic particles in Saturn's magnetosphere, radio emissions from Jupiter and Saturn, solar modulation and the heliocentric radial dependence of the intensity of galactic cosmic rays, interplanetary propagation and acceleration of energetic particles, the theory of wave phenomena in turbulent plasmas, and basic wave-particle-chemical processes in the ionospheric plasma