CHARACTERISTICS OF AURORAL PARTICLE FLUX,
Abstract
An auroral experiment, utilizing a rocket payload (Aerobee 3.615), provided direct 'in situ' measurements of the primary auroral flux which was precipitated during the breakup phase of a medium intensity IBC II auroral event above Churchill Research Range, Manitoba, Canada on 14 December 1966. The rocket payload included instrumentation for determining both the number densities of the proton and electron flux and the total energy carried by the particles. The bright auroral displays, manifest in the all-sky camera photographs, occurred usually some distance from the rocket; the region surrounding the rocket being usually characterized by only dim-diffuse auroral displays. However, when the rocket was at an altitude of 130 km on the descent portion of the flight, a bright auroral arc quickly developed in the immediate vicinity of the rocket. The rocket's penetration of this bright arc was marked by rapid increases in the particle flux measurements; the energy flux and number densities increased by a factor of ten. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0695520
Entities
People
- Kenneth E. Phillips
Organizations
- University of Utah