A CHARGE-SEPARATION MECHANISM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POLAR AURORAS AND ELECTROJETS
Abstract
A mechanism for charge separation in the geomagnetically trapped radiation is described which may account for some observed phenomena associated with the polar aurora and the electrojet current systems. Surfaces of constant number density may be separated from surfaces of constant integral invariant within the trapped radiation as a result of distortion of the geomagnetic field by solar streams. Drift separation of protons and electrons will follow, and for irregular distributions of plasma number density, electric fields will arise. A direct consequence of such polarization of the geomagnetically trapped radiation will be the polar-electrojet current systems. The polar aurora arise where energetic particles are discharged from regions of excess charge within the geomagneticall trapped radiation. A model for the discharge of such auroral particles is discussed. An interesting feature of the proposed mechanism is that the extreme thinness of auroral sheets appears to follow as a natural consequence of charge separation. This is shown analytically for a simple two-dimensional model of a trapped plasma.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0274182
Entities
People
- J.w. Kern
Organizations
- RAND Corporation