Doppler Shift of Auroral Lyman Alpha Observed from a Satellite
Abstract
The first documentation of Doppler shifted auroral Lyman alpha emission resulting from incident energetic protons in the auroral regions has been made using nadir VUV satellite spectral observations. The auroral Lyman alpha emission from high-velocity protons is expected to show a red shifted wavelength displacement based on ground-based observations of Balmer lines. VUV spectra (1100-1900 A) taken over five sample auroral oval crossings by a nadir- viewing satellite in 1978 consistently show the Lyman alpha emission displaced toward longer wavelengths with a larger line width. The intensity peaks were shifted up to 4A when the geocoronal Lyman alpha emission profile was subtracted from the Lyman alpha emission profile observed over the auroral regions. The optical observations infer the auroral proton precipitation with average energies of 34 keV and an energy flux of 0.1 erg/cm/s/sr when interpreted according to available model calculations. These values agree reasonably well with the average values for the characteristics of nightside incident auroral protons based on previous statistical satellite particle precipitation observations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA211892
Entities
People
- C. R. Romick
- C.-i. Meng
- M. Ishimoto
- R. E. Huffman
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University