The Effect of Electric Field Structure on Joule Heating
Abstract
We have recently performed a detailed characterization of ion Joule heating perpendicular to an axial magnetic field in the laboratory in a simulated ionospheric plasma environment which contains localized electric field structuring. Since Joule heating is often regarded as an important mechanism contributing to energization of outflowing heavy ions observed by higher altitude auroral satellites, this work has particular relevance to space physics issues; and, to our knowledge, has not been investigated systematically in a controlled environment. Since transverse (to B) ionospheric electric fields are rarely uniform but tend to show spatial and temporal structure, often as small as an ion gyroradius, the ability to systematically vary the spatial extent and magnitude of the electric field region and to observe the effect on ion energy is important. The experiment makes use of a concentric set of separately biasable ring anodes which generate a radial electric field with controllable scale length perpendicular to an ambient axial magnetic field. Joule heating results from ion-neutral collisions occurring within this transverse, dc electric field region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA417287
Entities
People
- D. N. Walker
- G. Ganguli
- W. E. Amatucci
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory