Engineering topics

Frank, L. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Frank, L. A..

At least 127 records · Page 7

NASA NTRS1986

A statistical study of the central plasma sheet - Implications for substorm models

The University of Iowa Lepedea on board ISEE 1 is used to investigate the characteristics of the central plasma sheet under all levels of geomagnetic activity. Positive ion responses from 1 eV to 45 keV are used in this study. All the periods during 1978 when the central plasma sheet is encountered are included. This study excludes all boundary layer samples. The results of this study show that the central plasma sheet consists of plasma with high thermal energy (several keV) but low bulk speeds. This remains true even during high geomagnetic activity. The main effect of increasing activity is heating of the plasma sheet, preferentially at the high-latitude boundaries.

Huang, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Comment on the paper 'On the influx of small comets into the earth's upper atmosphere. II - Interpretation'

Frank et al. (1986) argue that, on the basis of dayglow observations, about 20 small comets of mass roughly 100,000 g hit the earth each minute. The proposed comets appear to require dust mantles; for otherwise they would evaporate quickly and contribute to the solar wind. Such an enrichment is not observed. An order-of-magnitude argument based on comet sizes, densities, and meteoritic dust influx is used here to show that the dust mantles can have a maximum thickness of about 200 microns. A reasonable estimate gives a thickness of about 0.2 micron. The mantles are thus too thin to suppress evaporation.

Frank, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

On the influx of small comets into the earth's upper atmosphere. I - Observations. II - Interpretation

The atmospheric dayglow in the atomic oxygen emissions at 130.4 nm observed by the spin-scan photometer of the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite is analyzed. Large, transient decreases in dayglow intensities of 5-20 percent are detected; the decreases referred to as an atmospheric hole or dark spot covers an area of 2000 sq km and 10 atmospheric holes/min occur in the dayside upper atmosphere. The diurnal variation of the occurrence rate is examined; the relation between the variation and the influx of extraterrestrial objects is studied. These cometlike objects are composed of water snow or clathrate in the form of a fluffy aggregate. The effects caused by the impact of the comet with the earth's atmosphere are investigated.

Frank, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The theta aurora

A comprehensive review is presented of the characteristics of theta aurora as revealed from four imaging efforts with the DE 1 and 2 satellites. The theta aurora consists of an auroral oval with a sun-aligned arc extending from the dayside to the nightside sectors of the oval. The DE 1 spacecraft provided high altitude simultaneous measurements of the electric and magnetic fields and plasma and the DE 2 collected equivalent low altitude data on the four events. The plasma was found to convect sunward when the transpolar arc appeared, while the convection was antisunward in other regions over the polar cap. The arc plasmas featured field-aligned electron acceleration into the polar atmosphere and field-aligned current sheets, both of which were sparse over the rest of the polar cap. The ions originated in the ionosphere and the solar wind; ions over the rest of the polar cap mainly arrived from the magnetosphere. Further discussions are provided of the dominant electrons and ions and the associated flow directions into and out of the various regions of the pole, similarities between the transpolar arc and the auroral oval, and interactions between the ionosphere and the auroral phenomena.

Frank, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley before perihelion: Preliminary observations with dynamics Explorer 1

The hydrogen coma of Comet Halley has been observed in resonantly scattered solar Lyman-alpha radiation during the period 1-29 January 1986 as the comet approached perihelion. These observations were obtained with the imaging photometer for vacuum-ultraviolet wavelengths on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1. For the initial analysis of observations available in 17 orbits distributed throughout the period, least-squares fits are computed for the observed exponential decrease in brightness with radial distance from the nucleus. Brightness at the nucleus increased from approx. 3 to 17 kR during the observing period. Preliminary analysis yields water production rates of approx. 3.6 x 10 to the 29th power and 1.9 x 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec on 1 and 29 January, respectively.

Craven, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Velocity distributions of ion beams in the plasma sheet boundary layer

The value of measured ion-beam velocity distributions as diagnostic tools to characterize the propagation and acceleration of particle beams in the plasma-sheet boundary layer is assessed. Models based on adiabatic deformation of a flowing Maxwellian, acceleration by field-aligned potentials, and current-sheet acceleration are fitted to observational data, and the results are presented in extensive diagrams and graphs. The data are found to be consistent with models involving field-aligned or cross-tail potential drops, but not with models based solely on the adiabatic deformation of initially isotropic distributions.

Eastman, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Global auroral responses to magnetospheric compressions by shocks in the solar wind - Two case studies

The global auroral responses to shocks in the solar wind at earth were studied. The z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field, Bz, is negative ahead and behind the first shock and positive for the second case. A sudden-commencement geomagnetic storm develops in each case, with maximum D sub st 190 nT. An immediate auroral response is detected at all longitudes around the auroral oval, in which auroral luminosities increase by a factor of 2 to 3 with the first samples after each sudden commencement. The time delay in obtaining the first sample varies with local time from approx. 1 to 19 mins. No other significant variations in the aurora are associated with the immediate response. Beginning approx. 30 mins after each sudden commencement, the aurora becomes active and displays significant variations in its luminosity and spatial distribution. For Bz 0 an intense substorm develops. A sun-aligned transpolar arc forms when Bz 0, appearing first at local midnight as a polar arc and then lengthening sunward from the auroral oval across the polar cap to noon at an average speed of approx. 1 km/sec.

Craven, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Three-dimensional plasma observations near the outer magnetospheric boundary

The present study is concerned with an evaluation of some of the plasma and field processes by which the magnetospheric boundary layer acts as a magnetohydrodynamic (HD) dynamo. An analysis is conducted of 18 crossings of the dayside magnetopause and boundary layer, taking into account data provided by the quadrispherical electrostatic analyzers (Lepedea) of the International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) spacecraft. These instruments sample ion and electron velocity distributions in three dimensions. Attenion is given to aspects of data presentation, magnetopause identification, details regarding the magnetopause crossings, cross-field plasma flow, comparisons of magnetosheath and boundary layer plasma flow, and six conclusions.

Eastman, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The boundary layers as the primary transport regions of the earth's magnetotail

A comprehensive survey of ISEE and IMP LEPEDEA plasma measurements in the earth's magnetotail reveals that the magnetospheric boundary layer and the plasma sheet boundary layer are the primary transport regions there. These plasma measurements also reveal various components of the plasma sheet, including the central plasma sheet and plasma sheet boundary layer. A significant new result reported here is that of cold- and hot-plasma components that are spatially co-present within the central plasma sheet. Such plasma components cannot be explained merely by temporal variations in spectra involving the entire plasma sheet. Contributions to a low temperature component of the plasma sheet enter directly from the boundary layer located along the magnetotail flanks. Field-aligned flows predominate within the plasma sheet boundary layer which is almost always present and is located near the high- and low-latitude border of the plasma sheet. The plasma sheet boundary layer comprises highly anisotropic ion distributions, including counter-streaming ion beams, that evolve into the hot, isotropic component of the plasma sheet. Tailward acceleration regions generate these ion beams with plasma input from the magnetospheric boundary layer. Antisunward-flowing ion beams, at E/q less than 1 kV and of ionospheric composition, are frequently observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer and in tail lobes. These ion beams are likely accelerated at low altitude over the polar cap and especially along auroral field lines.

Eastman, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Plasmas in the earth's magnetotail

An overview of the general charcteristics of plasmas within the earth's magnetotail and its environs is presented. Present knowledge of the plasma within these regions as gained via in situ measurements provides the general theme, although observations of magnetic fields, energetic particles and plasma waves are included in the discussion. Primary plasma regimes in the magnetotail are the plasma sheet, its boundary layer, the magnetotail lobes, the boundary layer at the magnetopause and the distant magnetotail. Although great progress in the understanding of these regions is evident in the literature of the past several years, many of their features remain as exciting enigmas to be resolved by future observational and theoretical investigation.

Frank, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Initial results from the DE-1 ozone imaging instrumentation

The first synoptic global-scale images of total column ozone are obtained in the sunlit hemisphere using the imaging instrumentation on board the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE-1). The total column ozone is determined using the backscatter ultraviolet technique. The high apogee altitude of the eccentric, polar orbit allows global-scale images of the terrestrial ozone field to be obtained in 12 minutes with good spatial resolution. Previous ozone-monitoring spacecraft have required much longer time periods for comparable spatial coverage because of their lower altitudes. The much higher altitude of DE-1 also provides hours of continuous imaging of features, as compared to minutes or seconds with previous spacecraft. Substantial short-term (less than 1 day) variations in the synoptic ozone field have been detected. This paper provides a brief description of this unique observation platform and shows the validity of the measured fields using comparisons with the Dobson network and with various meteorological measurements.

Keating, G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The temporal evolution of a small auroral substorm as viewed from high altitudes with Dynamics Explorer 1

A small auroral substorm is investigated with auroral imaging photometers carried on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1. Initial brightening along the auroral oval and the subsequent westward and poleward motions of intense, localized emission regions are associated with auroral surges. Following substorm onset, another region of less intense emissions is observed to develop at lower latitudes and adjacent to the bright region near local midnight. This second region expands toward the east. The bright zone of auroral emissions associated with the surges is interpreted as the signature of electron acceleration along magnetic field lines threading the boundary layer of the plasma sheet in the magnetotail. The more diffuse, less intense region is identified with eastward-drifting electrons injected into the plasma sheet and ring current following substorm onset. No rapid poleward motion of the discrete aurora is detected during substorm recovery.

Craven, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Energetic particle observations in the low-latitude boundary layer

Energetic (approximately equal to or greater than 24 keV) particle three-dimensional distributions are presented, taking into account a dawnside (approximately 0515 LT) and duskside (approximately 1845 LT) traversal of the magnetopause boundary regions during periods of northward magnetosheath magnetic field. The boundary region traversed is identified as the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) on the basis of survey plasma data, the energetic particle distributions, and magnetic field behavior. The main features of the energetic particle data for these two passes are discussed. On the basis of an analysis of the obtained data, it is concluded that the dawn and dusk LLBL are on closed geomagnetic field lines. It is found that the plasma sheet is the main source of energetic LLBL particles. The possibility exists that the tailward convecting particles in the LLBL reenter the plasma sheet at some further distance in the tailward direction.

Williams, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Universal time dependence of nighttime F region densities at high latitudes

Coincident auroral-zone experiments using three incoherent-scatter radars at widely spaced longitudes are reported. The observational results demonstrate that, during the night, the F layer electron density is strongly dependent on the longitude of the observing site. Ionization patches were observed in the nighttime F region from the Chatanika and EISCAT radars, while densities observed from the Millstone radar were substantially smaller. The electron density within these maxima is larger at EISCAT than at Chatanika. When observed in the midnight sector auroral zone, these densities had a peak density at a high altitude of 360-475 km. The density was maximum when EISCAT was in the midnight sector and minimum when Millstone was in the midnight sector. A minimum in insolation in the auroral zone occurs at the UT when Millstone is in the midnight sector.

De La Beaujardiere, O.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Global auroral responses to magnetospheric compressions by shocks in the solar wind: Two case studies

The global auroral responses to shocks in the solar wind at Earth were studied. The z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field, Bz, is negative ahead and behind the first shock and positive for the second case. A sudden-commencement geomagnetic storm develops in each case, with maximum D sub st 190 nT. An immediate auroral response is detected at all longitudes around the auroral oval, in which auroral luminosities increase by a factor of 2 to 3 with the first samples after each sudden commencement. The time delay in obtaining the first sample varies with local time from approx. 1 to 18 mins. No other significant variations in the aurora are associated with the immediate response. Beginning approx. 30 mins after each sudden commencement, the aurora becomes active and displays significant variations in its luminosity and spatial distribution. For Bz 0 an intense substorm develops. A sun-aligned transpolar arc forms when Bz 0, appearing first at local midnight as a polar arc and then lengthening sunward from the auroral oval across the polar cap to noon at an average speed of approx. 1 km/sec.

Craven, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Suprathermal plasma observed on STS-3 Mission by plasma diagnostics package

Artificially produced electron beams were used extensively during the past decade as a means of probing the magnetosphere, and more recently as a means of actively controlling spacecraft potential. Experimentation in these areas has proven valuable, yet at times confusing, due to the interaction of the electron beam with the ambient plasma. The OSS-1/STS-3 Mission in March 1982 provided a unique opportunity to study beam-plasma interactions at an altitude of 240 km. On board for this mission was a Fast Pulse Electron Generator (FPEG). Measurements made by the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) while extended on the Orbiter RMS show modifications of the ion and electron energy distributions during electron beam injection. Observations made by charged particle detectors are discussed and related to measurements of Orbiter potential. Several of the PDP instruments, the joint PDP/FPEG experiment, and observations made during electron beam injection are described.

Paterson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The temporal evolution of a small auroral substorm as viewed from high altitudes with Dynamics Explorer 1

A small auroral substorm is investigated with auroral imaging photometers carried on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1. Initial brightening along the auroral oval and the subsequent westward and poleward motions of intense, localized emission regions are associated with auroral surges. Following substorm onset, another region of less intense emissions is observed to develop at lower latitudes and adjacent to the bright region near local midnight. This second region expands towards the east. The bright zone of auroral emissions associated with the surges is interpreted as the signature of electron acceleration along magnetic field lines threading the boundary layer of the plasma sheet in the magnetotail. The more diffuse, less intense region is identified with eastward-drifting electrons injected into the plasma sheet and ring current following substorm onset. No rapid poleward motion of the discrete aurora is detected during substorm recovery.

Craven, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Images of the earth's aurora and geocorona from the Dynamics Explorer mission

Several series of auroral and geocoronal images from th Dynamics Explorer Mission are presented and analyzed. It is found that the motion of the transpolar arc of a theta aurora is correlated with the y-component of the IMF; the arc motion is in the general direction of the y-component. In addition, a sequence of global images of a small auroral substorm shows the initial development of intense luminosities in a relatively small spatial region or 'bright spot' in the premidnight sector of the auroral oval and a subsequent appearance of an expanding area of lesser intensities at low latitudes and contiguous to the midnight boundary of the bright spot. Finally, a series of images of the geocorona in scattered solar Ly-alpha emissions is used to obtain a best-fit spherical model of atomic hydrogen densities in the earth's exosphere; a Chamberlain model provides an adequate fit to radial distances of 4.5 earth-radii, beyond which an exponential fit is used. The geocoronal tail is detected as an asymmetric increase in scattered Ly-alpha intensities in the antisolar direction.

Frank, L. A.↗