Engineering topics

Krimigis, S. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Krimigis, S. M..

At least 91 records · Page 5

NASA NTRS1985

Latitude dependence of co-rotating shock acceleration

Energetic particle observations in the outer heliosphere (approx 12 A. U.) by the LECP instruments on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft are discussed that show a definite latitude dependence of the number and intensity of particle enhancements produced by corotating interplanetary regions during an interval when no solar energetic particle events were observed. The particle enhancements are fewer in number and less intense at higher (approx 20 deg.) heliolatitudes. However, the similar spectral shapes of the accelerated particles at the two spacecraft indicate that the acceleration process is the same at the two latitudes, but less intense at the higher latitude.

Gold, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Voyager 1 and 2 measurements of radial and latitudinal cosmic ray gradients during 1981 - 1984

The cosmic ray radial gradient was determined during 1981-84 using data from very similar detectors onboard spacecraft Voyagers 1 and 2 (radial separation approx. 6 AU, heliolatitude separation approx. 25 deg.) and from the Earth-orbiting satellite IMP 8. The principal result is that the radial gradient over this period decreased at the rate approx. 2.0%/AU between 1 and 16 AU and approx. 0.6%/AU between approx. 16 and 22 AU.

Venkatesan, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Energetic ions upstream of Jupiter's bow shock

In an analysis of the Jovian ion events, Baker et al. (1984) have found that there appears to be a spectral hardening as the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changed orientation from the postnoon to a prenoon connection point. It was also observed that ion events were accompanied by long-period (approximately 10 min) waves whose presence was weakly related to a decrease in the ion anisotropy. The present investigation examines in substantial detail the development of the ion energy spectrum over the full range (approximately 30 keV to approximately 4 MeV). The results of the investigation show that the energy spectra are dominated by heavy ions (presumed to be oxygen and sulfur) at higher (approximately equal to or greater than 300 keV) energies.

Krimigis, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Deep space observations of the east-west asymmetry of solar energetic storm particle events - Voyagers 1 and 2

It has been well established that solar flare shock waves, propagating through the interplanetary medium, accelerate ambient energetic particles, giving rise to the formation of energetic storm particle (ESP) intensity enhancements. However, the acceleration mechanism which is responsible for the generation of ESP events is still under investigation. In the present investigation, energetic proton observations during solar flare ESP events made with the aid of the Voyagers 1 and 2 deep space probes are employed as a basis to examine further the acceleration processes responsible for the generation of ESP events under different 'interplanetary magnetic field-shock front' configurations. It is found that large ESP proton intensity enhancements are superimposed on the ambient solar energetic particle population for solar flare sites to the east of the sun-spacecraft medidian.

Sarris, E. T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Outline of the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE) mission

This paper is intended as an introduction to a series of papers describing the three satellites of the AMPTE mission and their instrumentation. The aims and scientific context of the program are given together with a comparison of the general characteristics of the three spacecraft and their orbits. There is a brief resume of the studies performed so far, and a statement of future plans, together with a calendar of completed and planned experiments and measurements.

Bryant, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The Medium-energy particle analyzer (MEPA) on the AMPTE CCE spacecraft

A major objective in the design of the Charge Composition Explorer (CCE) is related to the measurement of small fluxes of ions (lithium and barium) injected in the solar wind and the deep magnetotail. A second important objective is concerned with the comprehensive measurement of the composition and dynamics of the natural-particle population. The medium-energy particle analyzer (MEPA) in the CCE is designed to cover an energy range which is normally covered by electrostatic analyzers. In order to prevent saturation by the large magnetospheric fluxes of low-energy protons, the MEPA sensor was designed to have a low efficiency for protons, but a high efficiency for the rarer heavier nuclei. The considered aims could be achieved by developing a technology, new to space flight, for measuring energetic ion composition. Particle mass is determined on the basis of the measurement of particle time of flight and total energy.

Mcentire, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

AMPTE/CCE energetic particle composition measurements during the September 4, 1984 magnetic storm

The results of measurements for the magnetic-storm period of September 4-7, 1984 from the medium-energy particle analyzer (MEPA) on the CCE spacecraft are presented. It is shown that within L-shells of about 2.5 to 5 in the dusk sector near the equatorial plane, the enhancement factor in the fluxes for the CNO group is greater than that of helium, which is greater than that of protons. The flux ratios of helium and CNO over all ions at the same total energy show considerable increases in the same L-shell ranges. For the particle population measured by MEPA, a local current-density enhancement of about 0.5 nA/sq m is found over the L range of 3.5 to 6 during the magnetic storm. It is found that the total current density is dominated by the pressure-gradient current of the protons.

Mcentire, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Magnetic storm of September 4, 1984 - A synthesis of ring current spectra and energy densities measured with AMPTE/CCE

Compositional studies of the equatorial distributions of ring current ions during the September 4, 1984 magnetic storm have been made possible by comprehensive energy, charge state, and mass coverage data from the Charge Composition Explorer satellite. An examination of ion spectra at an L value of about 4 on September 5, in the local evening sector, shows that energy density was dominated by protons, with O ions contributing about 27 percent at the peak of about 150 keV, while He ions contributed less than about 2 percent. September 6 ion spectra, taken during the recovery phase of the storm, indicate that ion densities at more than 20 keV had decreased markedly, and that the ring current energy density was primarily provided by protons.

Krimigis, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Multispacecraft observations of the east-west asymmetry of solar energetic storm particle events

Energetic proton observations have been obtained by instruments aboard the IMP-7 and -8 spacecraft and Voyager-1 and -2 deep space probes, in order to study the generation of solar flare Energetic Storm Particle Events (ESP) events at widely separated locations on the same shock front which are presumably characterized, on average, by different IMF shock front configurations for solar flare sites. Energetic proton observations indicate that substantial differences in the ESP proton intensity enhancements are detected at these energies for locations on the shock front with wide heliolongitude separations. The present results indicate that acceleration of ESP protons to more than 500 keV takes place at the quasi-perpendicular shock front domain, consistent with the 'shock drift' acceleration mechanism.

Sarris, E. T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The galactic cosmic ray intensity minimum in the inner and outer heliosphere in solar cycle 21

The occurrence of the cosmic ray intensity minimum during solar cycle 21 at widely separated locations in the heliosphere is investigated. The data include in situ measurements by cosmic-ray detectors on the earth-orbiting satellite IMP 8, on the Voyagers 1 and 2 spacecraft, and on the Pioneers 10 and 11 spacecraft, located at distances from 1 to 27 AU. It is noted that Pioneer 10 and the other three spacecraft (Pioneer 11 and Voyagers 1 and 2) are on the opposite sides of the sun, with the latter moving toward the tail of the heliosphere. The data used in the study have been suitably corrected by removing solar flare particle contributions, Forbush decreases, and contamination by the radioisotope thermoelectric generator. It is evident that there exists a time delay in the occurrence of the cosmic ray intensity minimum registered by the IMP 8 and Pioneer 10 detectors, the latter being located at approximately 27 AU. It is shown that the data from the four spacecraft in deep space are on an average consistent with the IMP 8 data at 1 AU when suitably corrected, using 3 percent/AU for the radial gradient and 500 km/s for the average speed of propagation. An overview of the intensity profiles reveals reasonable agreement among them. However, specific intensity features appear at times to propagate with speeds in excess of the average value of about 500 km/s.

Venkatesan, D.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Near equality of ion phase space densities at earth, Jupiter, and Saturn

Energetic-ion phase-space density profiles are strikingly similar in the inner magnetospheres of earth, Jupiter, and Saturn for ions of first adiabatic invariant near 100 MeV/G and small mirror latitudes. Losses occur inside L approximately equal to 7 for Jupiter and Saturn and inside L approximately equal to 5 at earth. At these L values there exist steep plasma-density gradients at all three planets, associated with the Io plasma torus at Jupiter, the Rhea-Dione-Tethys torus at Saturn, and the plasmasphere at earth. Measurements of ion flux-tube contents at Jupiter and Saturn by the low-energy charged-particle experiment show that these are similar (for O ions at L = 5-9) to those at earth (for protons at L = 2-6). Furthermore, the thermal-ion flux-tube contents from Voyager plasma-science data at Jupiter and Saturn are also very nearly equal, and again similar to those at earth, differing by less than a factor of 3 at the respective L values. The near equality of energetic and thermal ion flux-tube contents at earth, Jupiter, and Saturn suggests the possibility of strong physical analogies in the interaction between plasma and energetic particles at the plasma tori/plasma sheets of Jupiter and Saturn and the plasmasphere of earth.

Cheng, A. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Association between energetic particle bursts and Birkeland currents in the geomagnetic tail

IMP 8 observations in the geomagnetic tail of energetic particles at hundreds of keV and of the magnetic field are examined for a substorm period from 1700 to 1800 UT on Mar. 3, 1976. For this interval, it is found that bursts of energetic protons detected at a downstream distance of about 37 earth radii in the midnight tail region are accompanied by east-west magnetic field perturbations indicative of Birkeland current sheets. The magnitude of the magnetic field perturbations range from about 1 to 12 nT, corresponding to current densities of 1 to 9 mA/m when integrated over the current sheet thickness. These values are comparable to previous observations of Birkeland currents in the near-earth tail (X greater than -20 earth radii) and with the auroral-arc-associated Birkeland current densities at low altitudes scaled out to the tail region. The favorable comparison suggests that the closure of small-scale Birkeland current systems, at least in these instances, lies tailward of about 40 earth radii. The observed Birkeland current system and the magnitude of current densities are found to be consistent with ion tearing instability in the tail. The inferred wavelength of the tearing mode along the tail axis is about 2 to 17 earth radii. In the context of the tearing model, the presence of Birkeland currents and the occasional isotropic distribution of energetic electrons (of more than 0.22 MeV) suggest that the energetic particle events in this study occur on closed magnetic field lines, even though strong tailward streaming dominates the particle anisotropy in these events.

Lui, A. T. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Radial gradient of cosmic ray intensity from a comparative study of data from Voyager 1 and 2 and IMP 8

The IMP 8 satellite and Voyager 1 and 2 space probes obtained cosmic ray measurements during the late 1977 to mid-1982 period. Comparisons of 27-day averages of the data show that a positive radial intensity gradient existed on the average during this period, and that the cosmic ray intensity decrease toward solar maximum in 1980-1981 proceeds in a stepwise fashion. The cosmic ray minimum reached in late 1980/early 1981 appears almost simultaneously at 1 AU and at 10 AU, with and without propagation time delay effects, between IMP 8 and the Voyager spacecraft. These data are generally consistent with a heliolatitudinal gradient of 0 + or - 1 percent/deg. Attention is given to the implications of these results in the overall context of cosmic ray modulation theory.

Venkatesan, D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Energetic particle transport in the upstream region of Jupiter - Voyager results

Using Voyager 1 and 2 energetic (greater than 30 keV) ion measurements near the magnetopause, in the magnetosheath, and immediately upstream of the Jovian bow shock, the available ion compositional patterns have been examined together with typical energy spectra in each of these regions. Field-aligned, highly anisotropic ion bursts occurring early in most upstream events have relatively low fluxes of electrons and heavy ions associated with them. Characteristic spectral changes are found late in long-lived ion events at the same time that heavy ion and energetic electron fluxes are enhanced. The interplanetary magnetic field is always connected toward the dawn side of the planet late in this subset of upstream events, at the time that relativistic electrons and heavy ions are high. A model emphasizing energetic particle escape in the prenoon part of the Jovian magnetosphere, late in events, is presented to explain many of the upstream region features.

Baker, D. N.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Estimate of cosmic-ray latitudinal gradient in 1981-1982

Voyager 1 and 2 measurements of galactic cosmic ray proton gradients greater than 70 MeV over a period which coincides with the initial phase of cosmic ray recovery, following a minimum reached in late 1980-early 1981, are analyzed. The intensity difference between the two spacecraft, as they increase their heliolatitude separation from 3 to 16 deg, is consistent with either a positive radial gradient of about 2 percent/AU assuming zero heliolatitude gradient, or a small heliolatitude gradient of about 0.4 percent/degree, assuming zero helioradial gradient. If the radial gradient during the 1981-1982 recovery period remains at the 2-4 percent/AU level determined from multispacecraft measurements during the 1977-1980 decay period, then the heliolatitude gradient is negligible and may be accounted zero percent/deg over 16 deg heliolatitude separation in 8-13 AU.

Decker, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Active experiments in the distant magnetosphere - The AMPTE program

The Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE) program consists of three spacecraft that will be launched to inject tracer ions (lithium and barium) inside and outside the earth's magnetosphere and to detect and monitor these ions as they convect and diffuse through the inner magnetosphere. The principal objectives of the program are: (1) to investigate the transfer of mass from the solar wind to the magnetosphere and its further transport and energization within the magnetosphere; (2) to study the interaction between artificially injected and cosmical plasmas; (3) to establish the elemental and charge composition and dynamics of the charged particle population in the magnetosphere over a broad energy range; and (4) to explore further the structure and dynamics of ambient plasmas in the magnetosphere. The implementation of the above objectives is discussed, with emphasis placed on the tracer aspect of the program.

Krimigis, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Latitudinal and field-aligned cosmic ray gradients 2 to 5 AU Voyagers 1 and 2 and IMP 8

Results are presented showing that the contemporary picture of a relatively small heliocentric radial gradient is generally correct. They emphasize that such a gradient should really be thought of in terms of field-aligned structures since the cosmic ray populations tend to 'corotate' locally with the interplanetary field structure. Nonuniform latitudinal gradients of approximately 2 to 5 percent/deg in structures lasting 10 to 30 days are identified unambiguously. Additional evidence is seen for somewhat smaller latitudinal gradients often north to south and probably mixed with small field-aligned gradients of less than 1 percent/AU that persist for several solar rotations. It is suggested that these smallest ephemeral latitudinal gradients manifest themselves by affecting the degree of irregularity in diurnal variations of high latitude neutron monitors.

Roelof, E. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

On the plasma conditions at the dayside magnetopause of Saturn

The energy densities epsilon(P) of the low energy ions measured by the Low Energy Charged Particle experiment on Voyager 1 and 2 are compared to the magnetic field energy densities derived from the magnetometer instrument during the crossing of the dayside Saturn magnetopause. The ratios of the proton to magnetic field energy densities are greater than about 0.5 during the Voyager 2 crossing when the magnetopause was at about 18 R(s). During the Voyager 1 crossing of the magnetopause at about 23 R(s), the ratios were about 0.1, although they approached one as the spacecraft entered the region near 18 R(s). The observations show that the dayside Saturnian magnetopause can at times have high beta plasma conditions, similar to the situation found at Jupiter.

Lanzerotti, L. J.↗