Auroral Electron Fluxes.
Abstract
The data analyzed was from an auroral rocket probe, AF 10.312, launched in 1974 from Poker Flats, Alaska. The instrumentation is described in an AF Geophysics Laboratory Technical Report AFCRL-TR-75-0023. The data were from both a low energy and high energy electron spectrometer, which measured fluxes at 1-100 eV and 1-20 KeV respectively. The rocket flight was north along a geomagnetic meridian, crossing the Harang discontinuity and several non optical auroral arcs. Data represents the first available electron flux measurements over such an extensive energy range (1eV to 20 KeV) at an instant of time and for a number of altitudes. The flux distribution to the south of the discontinuity showed two 'bumps', one at 5eV and the other at 4KeV due to a lack of loss mechanisms at the lower energy and by the monoenergetic flux from space for the higher. The fluxes generally decreased with decreasing altitude as expected. No pitch angle dependence was discovered. South of the discontinuity peak fluxes were centered on 2KeV. An order of magnitude increase in flux at energies less than 10KeV were measured while the discontinuity was crossed (rocket was at 165 Km). In the auroral arcs, the peak flux was at 7KeV. Wave particle interactions were interpreted as the cause for the pattern of change with altitude of the greater than 1KeV and less than 10eV fluxes. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA064752
Entities
People
- William E. Sharp
Organizations
- University of Michigan