Investigation of Ring Current/Storm Dynamics: Preliminary Results

Abstract

This study outlines the achievements of the second year of work on data acquired by the Lockheed Ion Mass Spectrometer (IMS-LO), one of the space radiation group of instruments on the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES). The purpose of IMS-LO is to study the low energy (110eV-35 keV) ion component of the current plasma. The primary data processing is almost complete, as is the construction of databases of validated low energy ion data. A preliminary version of a static model of low energy ion composition in the ring current has been constructed. This shows the average equatorial energy and pitch-angle distributions of ion fluxes organized by L and local time. Non- equatorial distributions can be obtained by adiabatic mapping. A number of events from both quiet and disturbed times have been selected for special studies. The quiet time convection electric field was estimated using the Liouville's Theorem method. Several events were studied which suggest that induced electric fields can be important in the acceleration and loss of ions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA256688

Entities

People

  • H. L. Collin
  • J. B. Cladis
  • J. M. Quinn

Organizations

  • Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Birds
  • Convection
  • Data Processing
  • Databases
  • Electric Fields
  • Energy Bands
  • High Resolution
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Storms
  • Mass Spectrometers
  • Measurement
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Orbits
  • Polar Cap
  • Radiation
  • Space Sciences
  • Spacecraft

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster