Engineering topics

Chappell, C. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Chappell, C. R..

At least 73 records · Page 4

NASA NTRS1985

Structure of the plasmapause from ISEE 1 low-energy ion and plasma wave observations

Low-energy ion pitch angle distributions are compared with plasma density profiles in the near-earth magnetosphere using ISEE 1 observations. The classical plasmapause determined by the sharp density gradient is not always observed in the dayside region, whereas there almost always exists the ion pitch angle distribution transition from cold, isotropic to warm, bidirectional, field-aligned distributions. In the nightside region the plasmapause density gradient is typically found, and it normally coincides with the ion pitch angle distribution transition. The sunward motion of the plasma is found in the outer part of the 'plasmaspheric' plasma in the dusk bulge region.

Nagai, T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

A new source of suprathermal O(+) ions near the dayside polar cap boundary

A large number of data on suprathermal O(+) ions taken during the retarding ion mass spectrometer (RIMS) experiment aboard the DE 1 satellite are surveyed. Examples are found of low-energy, upflowing O(+) which are consistent with one or more of the proposed ionospheric escape mechanisms. These include transversely accelerated O(+) ions, indicating low-altitude transverse acceleration, and O(+) field-aligned flows which indicate low-altitude parallel acceleration by either ambipolar or current-driven electric fields. However, by far the most common pitch angle distribution of escaping O(+) is found to be a new type of O(+) flow event which provides evidence for both perpendicular and parallel ion acceleration below the satellite and is found exclusively in the lower latitudes of the dayside polar cap. All species of ions are observed to move upward during these events, with an upward heat flux.

Lockwood, M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Thermal ion temperatures from the retarding ion mass spectrometer on DE 1

Data from the retarding ion mass spectrometer (RIMS) on Dynamics Explorer 1 are analyzed by means of a thin sheath model to determine ion temperatures. A number of characteristic features of ion temperatures in and near the plasmasphere are presented. Typical H(+) temperatures in the plasmasphere are found to be 4000 K to 6000 K on the morningside and 2000 K to 4000 K on the eveningside, increasing with L throughout. In the plasma trough, typical temperatures observed are a few times 10,000 K. In the outer plasmasphere, multiple temperature components are frequently observed. H(+) and He(+) ions are found to be very close to thermal equilibrium with each other in all but perhaps the outer part of the plasmasphere. Within the plasmasphere, temperature profiles observed by DE 1/RIMS rarely show small-scale variation. During geomagnetically active times, high-altitude temperatures between L = 2 and 3 appear to be depressed over quiet time values, to the extent that they may be cooler than temperatures at low altitudes along approximately the same field line.

Comfort, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Superthermal ion signatures of auroral acceleration processes

The occurrence of non-Maxwellian superthermal features in the auroral topside ionosphere distribution functions has been documented by means of the retarding ion mass spectrometer on the Dynamics Explorer 1 spacecraft. Attention is given to a representative sampling of the observed features and their spatial morphology, as observed at altitudes ranging from a few thousand km to a few earth radii. The observations in question reveal a clear distinction between classical polar wind ion outflow and O(+)-enhanced superthermal flows, and confirm the importance of low altitude transverse acceleration in ionospheric plasma transport, as suggested by previous observations.

Moore, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Escape of suprathermal O(+) ions in the polar cap

Instruments on board the Dynamics Explorer (DE) 1 and 2 spacecraft have been used to investigate the characteristics of a very low-energy (less than 10 eV) outflow of O(+) ions at high altitudes over the polar cap. The measured O(+) outflow has a relatively high Mach number (2-6) and a flux of about 2 x 10 to the 8th/(sq cm s). A statistical study using 50 orbits of retarding ion mass spectrometer data indicates that the outflows occur during active magnetic conditions, lasting for several hours over large areas of the polar cap. The observations are then discussed and analyzed in a framework based on polar wind models with particular attention paid to the new information obtained by the DE 2 Fabry-Perot interferometer, and the impact these flows have on the composition of the magnetosphere. The observed suprathermal outflow of O(+) suggests a scenario requiring both significant compositional changes in the high latitude thermosphere and significant heating of the ions and electrons in the topside ionoshpere.

Waite, J. H., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Spacelab 1 - Mission overview and summary of scientific results

This paper recalls the reasons which led NASA to build the Space Shuttle and ESA to manufacture Spacelab and presents the most important features of the mission where these two elements were combined for the first time. An overview on the objectives of the seven science disciplines participating in this mission is given and selected results as far as known in June 1984 are presented.

Knott, K.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Spacelab 1 - Scientific objectives, life sciences, space plasma physics, astronomy and solar physics

A general overview of the accomplishments of the Spacelab 1 complement to the Shuttle mission of Nov. 28, 1983, is presented. Consideration is given to scientific results in the fields of life sciences, materials sciences, atmospheric physics, and earth observations. A table is given which lists the scientific objectives and the percentage of objectives accomplished in each field.

Chappell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Comparative magnetospheric/ionospheric studies using Dynamics Explorer spacecraft and ground-based radars

Coincident observations between the Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 spacecraft with Chatanika and Arecibo ground-based radar are briefly reviewed. Ionospheric-magnetospheric coupling processes in the plasmasphere, main trough, auroral zone, and polar cap are inferred from the density, temperature, composition, and angular distributions of the low-energy plasma observed from the E-region ionosphere out into the magnetosphere to an altitude of 2.5 earth radii (Re). From the polar cap to the inner plasmasphere, parallel and perpendicular electric fields, polar wind flow, and equilibrium diffusion appear to be involved in the ionospheric-magnetospheric coupling of the low energy plasma.

Green, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Comparative magnetospheric/ionospheric studies using Dynamics Explorer spacecraft and ground-based radars

Coincident magnetosphere-ionosphere observations between the Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 spacecraft with ground-based radar are reviewed. Ionospheric-magnetospheric coupling processes in the plasmasphere, main trough, auroral zone, and polar cap are inferred from the density, temperature, composition, and angular distributions of the low-energy plasma observed from the E-region ionosphere out into the magnetosphere to an altitude of 2.5 Re. From the polar cap to the inner plasmasphere, parallel and perpendicular electric fields, polar wind flow, and equilibrium diffusion appear to be involved in the ionospheric-magnetospheric coupling of the low energy plasma.

Green, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Thermal ion composition measurements of the formation of the new outer plasmasphere and double plasmapause during storm recovery phase

Thermal ion composition measurements from several successive dusk sector passes by the DE-1 satellite show the formation of the new outer plasmasphere and double plasmapause following a sharp decrease in geomagnetic activity. In less than one day after the magnetic activity decrease, the outer plasmasphere formed and consisted of cold, essentially Maxwellian plasma with ion composition and thermal energy characteristics generally similar to those of the inner plasmasphere, albeit at significantly lower densities. There is also evidence that at times the thermal O(+) density is comparable to the H(+) density within the plasmasphere.

Horwitz, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The Spacelab experience - A synopsis

The Spacelab 1 mission took place during the period Nov. 28 through Dec. 8, 1983. An overview of the first flight of the orbiting laboratory is presented.

Chappell, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Space experiments with particle accelerators

Electron and plasma beams and neutral gas plumes were injected into the space environment by instruuments on Spacelab 1, and various diagnostic measurements including television camera observations were performed. The results yield information on vehicle charging and neutralization, beam-plasma interactions, and ionization enhancement by neutral beam injection.

Obayashi, T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

First measurements of supersonic polar wind in the polar magnetosphere

Measurements from the Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer on the Dynamics Explorer have, for the first time, revealed a supersonic polar wind along polar cap field lines. The observations reported were obtained on the nightside (22:30 to 23:30 MLT) from 65 to 81 deg invariant latitude and at altitudes near 2 earth radii. Fitting the data using a thin-sheath model gives a range of temperatures of 0.1 to 0.2 eV with corresponding flow velocities of 25 to 16 km/s over the estimated range of spacecraft potential of +3 to +5 V. For these values the Mach number ranged from 5.1 to 2.6 (with a most likely value of 3). Characteristics of the H(+) flow are in general agreement with those predicted by 'classical' polar wind theory, but high variabilty of the He(+)/H(+) ratio was observed.

Nagai, T.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Characteristics of thermal and suprathermal ions associated with the dayside plasma trough as measured by the dynamics explorer retarding ion mass spectrometer

The thermal and suprathermal ion populations present in the refilling regions after a magnetic storm are examined using retarding ion mass spectrometer (RIMS) data from the Dynamics Explorer 1 spacecraft. The RIMS instrument is described, and data are presented and discussed in detail for the outer plasmasphere, plasmapause, depleted dayside magnetosphere, and dayside cusp. Three distinct populations were observed: thermal ions, warm anisotropic plasma, and the polar wind. The characteristics of these populations are considered, including the densities, temperatures, and density ratios. Aspects of the ionospheric plasma outflow are discussed, including the field-aligned flow speed, the ionospheric plasma escape flux, plasmaspheric refilling, and wave-particle phenomena.

Sojka, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Characteristics of low-energy plasma in the plasmasphere and plasma trough

Initial results of studies of low-energy plasma using the light ion mass spectrometer (LIMS) on the SCATHA satellite are presented. Results are discussed primarily for plasma flux in the noon to midnight local time sector, examining the behavior of the plasma with geomagnetic activity and local time. Measurements of the ion mass composition in this region for the energy ranges of the LIMS instrument are presented. Results of temperature measurements are given and a possible explanation for the difference between the whistler and OGO 5 plasmapause positions is suggested. The observed pitch angle distributions are presented, limited to a broad characterization of the plasma population. The effects of the spacecraft potential on the low-energy plasma measurements are considered.

Reasoner, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Low-energy (less than 100 eV) ion pitch angle distributions in the magnetosphere by ISEE 1

Attention is given to isotropic distribution, bidirectional field alignment distribution, unidirectional field alignment distribution, and low flux, in a statistical examination of low energy ion data from the ISEE 1 plasma composition experiment whose aim was the study of pitch angle distributions in all local times of the magnetosphere. The isotropic distribution consisting of less than 10 eV ions is a persistent inner region feature, while the bidirectional field-aligned distribution consisting of warm ions is a persistent feature of the outer dayside and is seen just outside the isotropic distribution region of the nightside. On the outer nightside, the unidirectional field-aligned distribution consisting of warm ions is the dominant signature. The 'sources' of ions in various regions are discussed in view of the present and other results.

Johnson, J. F. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Observations of low-energy plasma composition from the ISEE-1 and SCATHA satellites

This brief review is concerned with some of the initial measurements of low-energy ion properties conducted with the aid of ion composition detectors aboard the ISEE-1 and SCATHA satellites. ISEE-1 was launched in October 1977 into a highly elliptical orbit, while SCATHA was launched in January 1979 into a near geosynchronous orbit. Attention is given to the origin of low-energy plasma, the energization of ionospheric ions, the transport of ionospheric ions, and the loss of low-energy plasma from the magnetosphere. According to results obtained during the past several years, including the present ISEE-1 and SCATHA results, there are significant, and occasionally dominant, concentrations of He(+) and O(+) in various locations within the magnetosphere.

Horwitz, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Cold plasma distribution above a few thousand kilometers at high latitudes

Great advances with respect to the study of the earth's magnetosphere could be achieved in connection with the launch of the Dynamics Explorer (DE) 1 and 2 spacecraft. These advances were made possible partly because of the unique combination of coplanar orbits which simultaneously sample the low altitude ionospheric and atmospheric signature (DE-2) and the high altitude phenomena of the inner magnetosphere (DE-1). It was, thus, feasible to obtain new measurements of the coupling of plasmas and fields between these fundamentally important regions. One basic element of the coupling involves the interchange of low energy plasma between the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The flow characteristics of the low energy plasma are indicators of the magnetospheric and ionospheric electric fields which drive the current system. The Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer (RIMS) instrument has been designed for conducting measurements regarding this plasma population. Attention is given to details regarding RIMS, an example RIMS orbit, plasma trough characteristics, and polar cap phenomena.

Chappell, C. R.↗