Plasma Entry into the Earth's Magnetosphere,

Abstract

Recent observations of the direct entry of magnetosheath plasma into the sunlit hemisphere of the distant polar magnetosphere via the polar cusps have provided further motivation for in situ examination of plasmas throughout the distant magnetosphere in order to determine decisively the relationship of the polar magnetosphere with the plasma sheet. Both high- and low-altitude measurements are used to establish the salient features of the three regions presently thought to be the best candidates for the entry of magnetosheath plasma into the magnetosphere, and hence the primal sources of charged particles for the plasma sheet and its earthward termination in the ring current. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0744953

Entities

People

  • Louis A. Frank

Organizations

  • University of Iowa

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Charged Particles
  • Elevation
  • Hemispheres
  • Low Altitude
  • Low Elevation
  • Magnetosphere
  • Measurement
  • Motivation
  • Observation
  • Particles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.
  • Strategic Security Studies