A comparison of empirical and experimental O7+, O8+, and O/H values, with applications to terrestrial solar wind charge exchange

Abstract

Solar wind charge exchange occurs at Earth between the neutral planetary exosphere and highly charged ions of the solar wind. The main challenge in predicting the resultant photon flux in the X‐ray energy bands is due to the interaction efficiency, known as the α value. This study produces experimental α values at the Earth, for oxygen emission in the range of 0.5–0.7 keV. Thirteen years of data from the Advanced Composition Explorer are examined, comparing O7+ and O8+ abundances, as well as O/H to other solar wind parameters allowing all parameters in the calculation to be estimated based on solar wind velocity. Finally, a table is produced for a range of solar wind speeds giving average O7+ and O8+ abundances, O/H, and values.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 22, 2016
Source ID
10.1002/2016gl069914

Entities

People

  • Ian C. Whittaker
  • Steve Sembay

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • United States Air Force
  • University of Leicester

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Regression Analysis.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.