ENERGETIC ELECTRONS AT LATITUDES ABOVE THE OUTER ZONE CUTOFF,
Abstract
Measurements made by a nine-channel magnetic spectromer (energy range 225 keV to 2.47 MeV) on the polar-orbiting vehicle OV3-3 (1966-70B) indicate that energetic electrons from solar flares have access to the polar zones. Electrons were observed at invariant latitudes above the outer zone cutoff during the periods 29 August to 6 September 1966, 31 January to 8 February and 25 May to 15 June 1967. Isotropic fluxes with no spatial structure were observed over the entire polar zone sampled. Fluxes were independent of altitude over the range of 400 to 4000 km and between 0.13 and 0.48 gauss. Exponential decays of 0.67 and 0.80 days were observed for the 29 August and 2 September 1966 events. Typical spectra could be fit with power law functions with exponents between 3.0 and 3.6 for these two events. The January-February period in 1967 exhibited much harder electron spectra, with an exponential function providing the best fit with E sub o between 285 and 425 keV. Sub-solar and anti-solar polar flux merges with outer zone flux were distinctly different during the early phase of an event. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0679149
Entities
People
- Alfred L. Vampola
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation