Production of Very Energetic Electrons in a Discrete Aurora
Abstract
Data are presented showing that acceleration of electrons to energies in excess of 100 keV sometimes occurs on field lines associated with discrete auroral arcs. Velocity distributions suggest that acceleration is in directions primarily perpendicular to the magnetic field. The examples studied in the S3-3 data set indicate that the process can occur in the altitude range from the topside ionosphere to 5500 km. Our favored explanation is that the field-aligned beam excites upper hybrid waves when it interacts with the dense ionospheric plasma. The waves efficiently scatter the beam both in energy and pitch angle. Keywords: Aurora; Electron acceleration; Plasma waves; Magnetosphere; Wave particle interactions; Electron beams.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 26, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA208943
Entities
People
- D. J. Gorney
- D. W. Swift
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation