A theoretical approach to the morphology and the dynamics of diffuse auroral zones

Details A theoretical approach to the morphology and the dynamics of diffuse auroral zones A theoretical approach to the morphology and the dynamics of diffuse auroral zones

Sep 1983

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983jgr....88.7171f&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 88, Sept. 1, 1983, p. 7171-7184.

Physics

35

Auroral Zones, Diffuse Radiation, Electron Precipitation, Plasma Dynamics, Convection, Earth Ionosphere, Equipotentials, Hydrodynamic Equations, Magnetic Fields, Plasma Layers, Transport Properties

Scientific paper

A simplified treatment of the hydrodynamic equations which allows for both convection and precipitation makes it possible to simulate the earthward transport of plasma sheet electrons and to calculate the number and energy of precipitation fluxes at the top of the ionosphere. In contrast to the study by Kennel (1969) both the azimuthal and the radial dimension are included in the description of the convection process. Following Kennel, use is made of the assumption of strong pitch angle diffusion. A set of fluid equations describing the three-dimensional transport of plasma-sheet electrons is derived. Their integration furnishes the latitude and local time distribution of precipitation fluxes and characteristic energies at the top of the ionosphere as a function of the large-scale dawn to dusk electrostatic potential drop. The calculated expansion of the auroral oval with magnetic activity deduced from the model is found to approach the experimental results. For high values of magnetic activity, however, the theoretical results are found to be shifted poleward relative to the observations. This is seen as suggesting that the assumption of strong pitch angle diffusion overestimates the efficiency of wave-particle interactions.

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