Abstract
Direct measurements in active visual auroral forms using electrostatic plasma probes are described. On-board probes and an ejected Langmuir probe were used to provide maximum accuracy of measurement and freedom from perturbations. An electron density of 9.5 × 105 electrons/cm3 was found within a visual band, with a background density of 1.5 × 105 electrons/cm3 outside the band. The ionization maximum occurred at 107 km altitude, with a half-density vertical thickness of 7 km. The temperature of the thermal electrons over the interval 100 km to 168 km was found to range from 500 °K to 1400 °K. A hyperthermal electron component was also observed. A rocket-borne photometer determined the height of the optical emission region, and an array of optical, radio, and magnetic ground-based instruments were used to provide supporting geophysical data, and to define the position and variations of the auroral forms.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy
Cited by
27 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献