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Maynard, N. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Maynard, N. C..

At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Electric field measurements across the Harang discontinuity

The Harang discontinuity, the area separating the positive and negative bay regions in the midnight sector of the auroral zone, is a focal point for changes in behavior of many phenomena. Through this region the electric field, in a frame corotating with the earth, rotates through the west from a basically northward field in the positive bay region to a basically southward field in the negative bay region, appearing as a reversal in a single-axis measurement of the north-south component. Thirty-two of these reversals have been identified in the Ogo 6 data from November and December 1969. The discontinuity is dynamic in nature, moving southward and steepening its latitudinal profile as magnetic activity is increased. As activity decreases, it relaxes poleward and spreads out in latitudinal width. It occurs over several hours of magnetic local time.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Is the red arc a good indicator of ionosphere-magnetosphere conditions

Weak red arcs were observed on the two consecutive nights of July 12-13 and July 13-14, 1969, at Richland, Washington, whereas no red arcs were detectable on the nights preceding and following the observations. Satellite (Ogo 6) data of electron temperature and density, low-frequency ac electric field, and suprathermal electron flux corresponding to the conjugate region of Richland show no significant variations during these days. The data show elevated electron temperatures and enhanced low-frequency ac noise levels at the expected red arc position in the neighborhood of the density trough, as indicated by previous observations. The data appear to indicate that the optical criterion of red arc occurrence would lead to the conclusion of significantly different ionosphere-magnetosphere conditions during these four nights, whereas the more detailed in situ data show that the conditions were very similar.

Nagy, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High-latitude day side electric field and particle measurements

Two rockets carrying electric field and low-energy particle instrumentation were launched near noon at 80 deg magnetic latitude. One flight encountered polar cap conditions only, whereas the other traversed part of the polar cusp. Although weak particle precipitation was measured on both flights, bursts of intense magnetosheath-type electron fluxes were detected on the latter. Strong electric fields such as would result from antisunward convection were observed during both flights. The measurements are compared with results obtained by other types of spacecraft and are interpreted in the light of those data. It is concluded that direct access of magnetosheath electrons is very variable and occurs in small regions within a larger overall region.-

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A model of the effect of the satellite photosheath on a double floating probe system

Description of a model developed to predict the interactions between multiple electrostatic probes separated by distances that are shorter than or comparable to the characteristic plasma shielding length. The computation involves crude approximations accounting for space charge effects, currents due to the emission and exchange of photoelectrons, and currents from the ambient plasma. Floating potentials are calculated by requiring current balance for each probe and solving by iterating the resulting coupled nonlinear equations. Although only qualitative accuracy is claimed, predictions using the model are found to be in good agreement with observations from the Explorer 45 satellite. The Explorer 45 satellite measures the potential difference between a pair of symmetrical spherical floating probes. The Explorer 45 data show that with increasing altitude, first, the sunward sphere will typically assume a more negative potential than the antisunward sphere; second, the polarities of the probes in the region L = 2 to 4 may switch, sometimes several times; and, finally, near the plasmapause the detector output may saturate, the sunward sphere being more negative.

Cauffman, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Isolated cold plasma regions: Observations and their relation to possible production mechanisms

Regions of enhanced cold plasma, isolated from the main plasmasphere along the Explorer 45 orbit on the equatorial plane, are reported using the sheath induced potentials seen by the electric field experiment. The occurrence of these regions has a strong correlation with negative enhancements of Dst, and their locations are primarily in the noon-dusk quadrant. The data support the concept that changes in large scale convection play a dominant role in the formation of these regions. Plasmatails that are predicted from enhancements of large scale convection electric fields in general define where these regions may be found. More localized processes are necessary to account for the exact configuration and structure seen in these regions and may eventually result in detachment from the main plasmasphere.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Explorer 45 (S 3-A) observations of the magnetosphere and magnetopause during the 4-5 August 1972, magnetic storm period

The Explorer 45 satellite performed extensive field and particle measurements in the heart of the magnetosphere during the double magnetic storm period of August 4-5, 1972. Both ground level magnetic records and the magnetic field deformations measured along the orbit by the satellite indicated the existence of only a moderate ring current. This was confirmed by the measurements of the total proton energy density less than those observed during the December 1971 and June 1972 magnetic storms. The plasmapause in the noon quadrant was eroded continuously from the onset of the first storm at the beginning of August 4 to an altitude below L = 2.07 at about 18 hours on August 5. During the orbit containing the second sudden commencement a large amount of low frequency electric and magnetic field noise was encountered throughout the entire orbit. A noteworthy observation during this orbit was the contraction of the magnetopause to distances inside the satellite at L = 5.2.

Hoffman, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Electric field measurements across the harang discontinuity

The Harang discontinuity, the area separating the positive and negative bay regions in the midnight sector of the auroral zone, is a focal point for changes in behavior of many phenomena. Through this region the electric field rotates through the west from a basically northward field in the positive bay region to a basically southward field in the negative bay region, appearing as a reversal in a single axis measurement; 32 of these reversals have been identified in the OGO-6 data from November and December, 1969. The discontinuity is dynamic in nature, moving southward and steepening its latitudinal profile as magnetic activity is increased. As activity decreases it relaxes poleward and spreads out in latitudinal width. It occurs over several hours of magnetic local time. The boundary in the electric field data is consistent with the reversal of ground magnetic disturbances from a positive to negative bay condition. The discontinuity is present in the electric field data both during substorms and during quiet times and appears to define a pattern on which other effects can occur.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Electric field and fine structure in aurora.

Simultaneous rocket measurements of electric field and optical aurora during a weak PCA event are presented. The aurora consisted of faint structures superposed on a homogeneous glow, and on-board photometers showed that the rocket passed through two discrete auroral forms. These enhanced auroral emissions coincided with variations in the dc electric field and an increase in the ac field. A detailed comparison between electric fields and optical emissions shows that the relation is quite complex. The results are compared with earlier electric field and optical auroral measurements.

Maseide, K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

High-latitude dayside electric field and particle measurements

Two rockets carrying electric field and low energy particle instrumentation were launched near noon at 80 deg magnetic latitude. One flight encountered polar cap conditions only while the other traversed part of the polar cusp. Although weak particle precipitation was measured on both flights, bursts of intense magnetosheath-type electron fluxes were detected on the latter. Strong electric fields such as would result from anti-sunward convection were observed during both flights. The measurements are compared with results obtained by other types of space craft and interpreted in the light of those data.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Double floating probe measurements on S3-A.

Model calculations are made to explain the behavior of the potential of a pair of symmetrical floating probes used for the measurement of dc electric fields inside the plasmapause on the S3-A satellite launched on Nov. 15, 1971, into an eccentric orbit. Data representing the behavior of three regions of the plasmapause on and around Dec. 17, 1971, are discussed. The behavior of the plasmapause is found to be generally similar to that determined by previous observations involving variable magnetic activity.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

An example of anticorrelation of auroral particles and electric fields.

The question of whether correlation or anticorrelation should occur is complex and depends on many factors, e.g., the internal impedance of the source; the Pedersen conductivity, which in turn is dependent on the incident energy of the precipitated particles; whether space charge can build up; and the magnitude of the incoming flux. Data are presented from a case in which an anticorrelation between auroral particles and electric fields is especially striking. The data were obtained from a Nike Tomahawk launched from the Norwegian rocket range at Andoya. The experiments carried are described briefly. The data support the anticorrelation model as one mechanism that can affect the electric field strength in auroral regions.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Double floating probe measurements on S-cubed A

Results of plasmapause measurements made onboard S cubed A (explorer 45) satellite are presented. Data cover model calculations made to explain the observed probe potential behavior, comparison of satellite data with VLF data to establish that certain effects seen are interpretable as the plasmapause, and plasmapause behavior during the December 17, 1971 magnetic storm.

Maynard, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Electric fields in the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

Review of current techniques for measuring ionospheric and magnetospheric electric fields and existing measurements. Considerable progress in understanding electric fields has been made in the auroral regions where fields originating basically from convection patterns in the magnetosphere and modified by ionospheric interaction have been detected by both the barium ion cloud and double floating probe techniques and have been compared against predictions. The anticorrelation of electric fields and auroral arcs, the establishment of the auroral electrojet currents as Hall currents, the irregular nature of the electric fields, and the reversal of the electric fields between the eastward and westward electrojet regions have been some of the important observations. Recent barium ion cloud observations in the polar cap have indicated that the long assumed electrojet return current across the polar cap does not exist.

Maynard, N. C.↗