Physics
Scientific paper
Sep 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982georl...9..997c&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 9, Sept. 1982, p. 997-1000.
Physics
26
Dynamics Explorer 2 Satellite, Ionospheric Electron Density, Magnetohydrodynamic Stability, Polar Regions, Satellite Observation, Space Plasmas, Earth Magnetosphere, Electron Energy, Field Aligned Currents, Ion Temperature, Ionospheric Heating, Magnetic Field Configurations, Magnetosheath
Scientific paper
Observations by the low altitude Dynamics Explorer satellite (DE-2) in the polar cusp show the ionospheric plasma electron temperature and the ratio of electron to ion temperature to be increased, and the electron density fluctuations to be enhanced. Also, downward fluxes of energetic eletrons and ions increase in the cusp, and the magnetic field structure are consistent with the existence of a field-aligned current. Simultaneously, there is characteristic broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) with amplitudes of 1-10 mV/m, peaking in the cusp but extending into the polar cap. These emissions range from far below the local 0(+) gyrofrequency F sub O(+) to the vicinity of the proton gyrofrequency, but below the oxygen lower hybrid frequency. The BEN observations are compared to the predictions of several theories. The amplitude of these waves is shown to be far too small to contribute significantly to the observed ionospheric heating or density fluctuations by local wave-particle interactions. Rather, the observed spatial variations are attributed to nonlocal field aligned heating processes and reflect the nonuniformity of the magnetosheath plasma's penetration into the ionosphere.
Brace Larry H.
Curtis Steven Andrew
David Winningham J.
Hoegy Walter R.
Maynard Nelson C.
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