Abstract
A balloon payload launched from Cold Lake, Alta., Canada, on October 14, 1982, measured the spectrum of X rays (E = 20–160 keV) with a hard and a very soft component. The latter contributes significantly only to the 20–40 keV channel; thus a "flapping motion" at the lower energy end of the composite spectrum is observed. We have simulated, using the Monte-Carlo technique, the propagation of X rays through the atmosphere and determined the e-folding energy of the very soft component, which we estimate to be 5 keV, at a particular time (10:45 UT). The electron spectrum producing this soft X-ray source agrees well with in situ satellite and rocket-borne measurements of electron spectra during active auroras. Simulataneous auroral optical emissions (5577 Å (1 Å = 10−10 m)) by a ground-based all-sky charge-coupled device camera are also available for comparison. We also determine the count rate ratio between 20–40 and 60–80 keV channels as a parameter of the variability of the intensity of the very soft component. The time-changes of this ratio and that of the auroral optical emission intensity near the vicinity of the balloon are correlated. The lack of correlation at some other times is ascribed to differences in the behavior of the low- and high-energy ends of the elecron spectrum.
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy
Cited by
1 articles.
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