Physics
Scientific paper
Sep 1979
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1979georl...6..700t&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 6, Sept. 1979, p. 700-702.
Physics
6
Atmospheric Heating, Energetic Particles, Ion Motion, Magnetic Storms, Oxygen Ions, Particle Flux Density, Charge Exchange, Earth Magnetosphere, Energy Transfer, Hydrogen Ions, Photoionization, Thermosphere
Scientific paper
The study investigates the effects of the precipitation of energetic O(+) ions (0.7 - 12 keV) into the atmosphere during magnetic storms. The energetic O(+) ion flux produces a splash of lower energy neutral oxygen atoms at the top of the atmosphere. As a result of the photo-ionization and charge exchange with H(+) ions in the plasmasphere, these backscattered atoms produce a low energy O(+) flux that is more than 10 times larger in magnitude than the original energetic O(+) flux. The energetic O(+) events thus provide a potential source mechanism for the lower energy (no greater than about 30 eV) O(+) ions observed in the plasmasphere. It is also suggested that the energetic ion events may be self-sustaining in that some of the ionized 'splash' particles (no greater than about 10%) are subsequently accelerated by an as yet unidentified mechanism to the higher observed energies. It is found that 96% of the incoming energy is transferred to the neutral atmosphere in the form of heating. Measured fluxes indicate heating rates as high as about 0.4 erg/sq cm/sec/ster.
Torr Douglas G.
Torr Marsha R.
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