scholarly journals Observations of diverging field-aligned ion flow with the ESR

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 889-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Buchert ◽  
Y. Ogawa ◽  
R. Fujii ◽  
A. P. van Eyken
Keyword(s):  
Field Line ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Ionization Mechanism ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Ion Composition ◽  
Ion Flow ◽  
F Region ◽  
Ionization Balance

Abstract. We report on observations of a diverging ion flow along the geomagnetic field that is often seen at the EISCAT Svalbard radar. The flow is upward above the peak of the electron density in the F-region and downward below the peak. We estimate that in such events mass transport along the field line is important for the ionization balance, and that the shape of the F-layer and its ion composition should be strongly influenced by it. Diverging flow typically occurs when there are signatures of direct entry of sheath plasma to the ionosphere in the form of intense soft particle precipitation, and we suggest that it is caused by the ionization and ionospheric electron heating associated with this precipitation. On average, 30% of all events with ion upflow also show significant ion downflow below. Key words.Ionosphere (polar ionosphere; ionization mechanism; plasma temperature and density)

scholarly journals Polar patches observed by ESR and their possible origin in the cusp region

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1043-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Smith ◽  
S. E. Pryse ◽  
L. Kersley
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Plasma Flow ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Reconnection Site

Abstract. Observations by the EISCAT Svalbard radar in summer have revealed electron density enhancements in the magnetic noon sector under conditions of IMF Bz southward. The features were identified as possible candidates for polar-cap patches drifting anti-Sunward with the plasma flow. Supporting measurements by the EISCAT mainland radar, the CUTLASS radar and DMSP satellites, in a multi-instrument study, suggested that the origin of the structures lay upstream at lower latitudes, with the modulation in density being attributed to variability in soft-particle precipitation in the cusp region. It is proposed that the variations in precipitation may be linked to changes in the location of the reconnection site at the magnetopause, which in turn results in changes in the energy distribution of the precipitating particles.Key words: Ionosphere (ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions; plasma temperature and density; polar ionosphere)

scholarly journals Topside equatorial zonal ion velocities measured by C/NOFS during rising solar activity

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Coley ◽  
R. A. Stoneback ◽  
R. A. Heelis ◽  
M. R. Hairston
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Local Time ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Magnetic Latitude ◽  
Ion Drifts ◽  
F Region ◽  
Westerly Flow ◽  
Solar Local Time ◽  
Ion Velocity

Abstract. The Ion Velocity Meter (IVM), a part of the Coupled Ion Neutral Dynamic Investigation (CINDI) instrument package on the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) spacecraft, has made over 5 yr of in situ measurements of plasma temperatures, composition, densities, and velocities in the 400–850 km altitude range of the equatorial ionosphere. These measured ion velocities are then transformed into a coordinate system with components parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field allowing us to examine the zonal (horizontal and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field) component of plasma motion over the 2009–2012 interval. The general pattern of local time variation of the equatorial zonal ion velocity is well established as westward during the day and eastward during the night, with the larger nighttime velocities leading to a net ionospheric superrotation. Since the C/NOFS launch in April 2008, F10.7 cm radio fluxes have gradually increased from around 70 sfu to levels in the 130–150 sfu range. The comprehensive coverage of C/NOFS over the low-latitude ionosphere allows us to examine variations of the topside zonal ion velocity over a wide level of solar activity as well as the dependence of the zonal velocity on apex altitude (magnetic latitude), longitude, and solar local time. It was found that the zonal ion drifts show longitude dependence with the largest net eastward values in the American sector. The pre-midnight zonal drifts show definite solar activity (F10.7) dependence. The daytime drifts have a lower dependence on F10.7. The apex altitude (magnetic latitude) variations indicate a more westerly flow at higher altitudes. There is often a net topside subrotation at low F10.7 levels, perhaps indicative of a suppressed F region dynamo due to low field line-integrated conductivity and a low F region altitude at solar minimum.

scholarly journals Моделирование плазмы короткодугового ксенонового разряда сверхвысокого давления

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 1556
Author(s):  
Н.А. Тимофеев ◽  
В.С. Сухомлинов ◽  
G. Zissis ◽  
И.Ю. Мухараева ◽  
Д.В. Михайлов ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Field Strength ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Field Strength ◽  
Arc Discharge ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Cathode Region ◽  
Ultrahigh Pressure ◽  
Thoriated Tungsten ◽  
Ionization Balance

AbstractWe have studied a high- (ultrahigh-) pressure short-arc discharge in xenon with thoriated tungsten cathodes. A system of equations formulated based on earlier experimental data indicating possible emission of cathode material (thorium) into the discharge gap has made it possible to determine the electric field strength, plasma temperature, and concentration of thorium atoms as well as thorium and xenon ions in the plasma. The problem has been solved for a model discharge between planar electrodes. The results indicate the key role of thorium atoms in the cathode region. Thorium atoms determine the ionization balance and other electrokinetic properties of plasma. Emission of thorium atoms reduces the plasma temperature at the cathode, which turns out to be noticeably lower than the plasma temperature near the anode; this is a new result that agrees with experimental data. Other electrokinetic characteristics of the plasma (in particular, charged particle concentration and electric field strength) are also in good agreement with the experiment.

scholarly journals He<sup>+</sup> dominance in the plasmasphere during geomagnetically disturbed periods: 1. Observational results

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Denton ◽  
G. J. Bailey ◽  
C. R. Wilford ◽  
A. S. Rodger ◽  
S. Venkatraman
Keyword(s):  
Geomagnetic Storm ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Geomagnetic Disturbance ◽  
Topside Ionosphere ◽  
Exchange Reactions ◽  
Geomagnetic Disturbances ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
F Region

Abstract. Observations made by the DMSP F10 satellite during the recovery phase from geomagnetic disturbances in June 1991 show regions of He+ dominance around 830 km altitude at 09:00 MLT. These regions are co-located with a trough in ionisation observed around 55° in the winter hemisphere. Plasma temperature and concentration observations made during the severe geomagnetic storm of 24 March 1991 are used as a case study to determine the effects of geomagnetic disturbances along the orbit of the F10 satellite. Previous explanations for He+ dominance in this trough region relate to the part of the respective flux tubes that is in darkness. Such conditions are not relevant for this study, since the whole of the respective flux tubes are sunlit. A new mechanism is proposed to explain the He+ dominance in the trough region. This mechanism is based on plasma transport and chemical reaction effects in the F-region and topside ionosphere, and on the time scales for such chemical reactions. Flux tubes previously depleted by geomagnetic storm effects refill during the recovery phase from the ionosphere as a result of pressure differences along the flux tubes. Following a geomagnetic disturbance, the He+ ion recovers quickly via the rapid photoionisation of neutral helium, in the F-region and the topside. The recovery of the O+ and H+ ions is less rapid. This is proposed as a result of the respective charge exchange reactions with neutral atomic hydrogen and oxygen. Preliminary model calculations support the proposed mechanism.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (storms and sub-storms, plasmasphere)

scholarly journals Observing the north polar ionosphere on 30 October 2003 by GPS imaging and IS radars

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Stolle ◽  
J. Lilensten ◽  
S. Schlüter ◽  
Ch. Jacobi ◽  
M. Rietveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Storm Main Phase ◽  
The North ◽  
F Region ◽  
Longitudinal Band ◽  
North Polar

Abstract. The evening of 30 October 2003 was subject to a major storm main phase. For this time, we combine large-scale electron content maps from GPS imaging with time series of electron density and temperature of two EISCAT radars in Tromsø and Svalbard and the Sondrestrom radar, for observing the north polar ionosphere. The GPS assimilations resulted in the image of the electron content trace of an anti-sunward polar Tongue Of Ionisation (TOI) consecutively to 20:00 UT. In combination with the radar observations we concluded that the TOI persisted during the whole period of continuous southward IMF Bz until about 22:40 UT while its largest extension toward the nightside auroral region was found between 21:00-22:00 UT. A typical F region electron temperature of ~2000 K and the plasma velocity of ~800 ms-1 support its convective origin from the dayside mid-latitudes. Due to the structured appearance of the electron content distribution and the radar electron density time series we believe that discrete plasma patches formed inside the anti-sunward drift pattern. After two large oscillations of the IMF Bz the nightside plasma density was observed to re-enhance after 23:00 UT along a longitudinal band below 70 N. Coinciding electron temperatures of ~2000 K suggest again the convective nature of the plasma, while a modified convection pattern is expected.

scholarly journals Structure of the poleward wall of the trough and the inclination of the geomagnetic field above the EISCAT radar

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 740-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Jones ◽  
I. K. Walker ◽  
L. Kersley
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Energy Input ◽  
Current Model ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Dynamic Feature ◽  
Eiscat Radar ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. A special high-resolution routine of the EISCAT radar has been used to investigate the structure and development of the poleward wall of a deep trough in electron density. The feature was tracked by the radar during a 7-hour period under very quiet geomagnetic conditions. The field-aligned nature of the structure enabled an estimate to be made of the inclination of the geomagnetic field above EISCAT that was in good agreement with the current model. Observations of narrow field-aligned enhancements in electron temperature demonstrated that the wall of this trough is a dynamic feature, reforming regularly as the electron density responds on a time scale of tens of minutes to energy input from soft-particle precipitation.

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