Turbulent Loss of Ring Current Protons.
Abstract
Ring current protons (<50 keV), which are unaffected by ion cyclotron waves outside the plasmapause, undergo strong turbulent diffusion just inside the plasmapause. Lifetimes from ion cyclotron turbulence are predicted to be of the order of one hour, as observed by Frank for 3 < or = L < or = 5. During the main phase of a geomagnetic storm, the protons rapidly diffuse across the plasmapause (probably at the Bohm rate), and are lost before reaching the noon meridian, giving rise to the asymmetric part of the ring current. During the recovery phase the ring current decays on a time scale of a day or less as the turbulent region moves outward with the expansion of the plasmapause. Further decay takes place on a charge exchange time scale. One consequence of the dissipation of ring current energy at the plasmapause should be the formation of mid-latitude red arcs, probably by the conversion of this energy into heat as the ion cyclotron waves are absorbed by electrons. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0715260
Entities
People
- F. V. Coroniti
- John Cornwall
- Richard M. Thorne
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation