Physics
Scientific paper
May 1990
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990jgr....95.6039b&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 95, May 1, 1990, p. 6039-6049. Research supported by the U.S. Navy and NS
Physics
15
Auroral Arcs, Electric Fields, Ionospheric Currents, Magnetic Fields, Satellite Imagery, Viking Spacecraft, Current Sheets, Electric Potential, Field Aligned Currents, Kilometric Waves, Particle Acceleration, Space Plasmas
Scientific paper
Combined observations of electric and magnetic fields, particles, wave emissions, and UV images, taken at intermediate altitude above the acceleration region of a 14 MLT aurora, are presented. The aurora was observed in the region of large-scale reversal of the perpendicular electric field. Spin-averaged data are examined, and the critical field-aligned potential drop is determined. The source plasma parameters are found to be typical for the magnetosheath plasma, which means that in the center of the current sheet the observed field-aligned potential drop is greater than the critical field-aligned potential drop, indicating a saturation current. Results of the electron density examination provide further evidence for the existence of a saturation current. Comparison with data obtained previously indicates that the observed values for T, B(i)/B(V), and the field-aligned potential drop are typical for the postnoon sector; it can therefore be concluded that a saturation current may be a common phenomenon for the intense postnoon aurora.
Block Lars P.
Bruning K.
Eliasson Lars
Marklund Göran T.
Pottelette Raymond
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