Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Oct 1977
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1977ap%26ss..51..461l&link_type=abstract
Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 51, no. 2, Oct. 1977, p. 461-495.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
3
Atmospheric Models, Auroras, Electron Precipitation, Geomagnetism, Magnetic Mirrors, Atmospheric Electricity, Collimation, Dynamo Theory, Earth Ionosphere, Earth Magnetosphere, Electric Current, Electrical Resistivity, Electron Energy, Field Aligned Currents, Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling, Particle Acceleration, Potential Gradients, Proton Precipitation, Satellite Observation
Scientific paper
On the basis of field and particle observations, it is suggested that a bright auroral display is a part of a magnetosphere-ionosphere current system which is fed by a charge-separation process in the outer magnetosphere (or the solar wind). The upward magnetic-field-aligned current is flowing out of the display, carried mainly by downflowing electrons from the hot-particle populations in the outer magnetosphere (the ambient cold electrons being depleted at high altitudes). As a result of the magnetic mirroring of these downflowing current carriers, a large potential drop is set up along the magnetic field, increasing both the number flux and the kinetic energy of precipitating electrons. It is found that this simple basic model, when combined with wave-particle interactions, may be able to explain a highly diversified selection of auroral particle observations. It may thus be possible to explain both 'inverted-V' events and auroral rays in terms of a static parallel electric field, and the electric field may be compatible with a strongly variable pitch-angle distribution of the precipitating electrons, including distributions peaked at 90 deg as well as zero deg. This model may also provide a simple explanation of the simultaneous precipitation of electrons and collimated positive ions.
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