Engineering topics

Smith, E. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Smith, E. J..

At least 199 records · Page 11

NASA NTRS1987

Properties of a large-scale interplanetary loop structure as deduced from low-energy proton anisotropy and magnetic field measurements

Correlated particle and magnetic field measurements by the ISEE 3 spacecraft are presented for the loop structure behind the interplanetary traveling shock event of Nov. 12, 1978. Following the passage of the turbulent shock region, strong bidirectional streaming of low-energy protons is observed for approximately 6 hours, corresponding to a loop thickness of about 0.07 AU. This region is also characterized by a low relative variance of the magnetic field, a depressed proton intensity, and a reduction in the magnetic power spectral density. Using quasi-linear theory applied to a slab model, a value of 3 AU is derived for the mean free path during the passage of the closed loop. It is inferred from this observation that the proton regime associated with the loop structure is experiencing scatter-free transport and that either the length of the loop is approximately 3 AU between the sun and the earth or else the protons are being reflected at both ends of a smaller loop.

Tranquille, C.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Bidirectional electron anisotropies in the distant tail - ISEE 3 observations of polar rain

A detailed observational treatment of bidirectional electrons (50 approx. 500 eV) in the distant magnetotail (or greater than or equal to 100 R sub E) is presented. It is found that electrons in this energy range commonly exhibit strong, field aligned anisotropies in the tail lobes. Because of large tail motions, the ISEE-3 data provide extensive sampling of both the north and south lobes in rapid succession, demonstrating directly the strong asymetries that exist between the north and south lobes at any one time. The bidirectional fluxes are found to occur predominantly in the lobe directy connected to the sunward IMF in the open magnetosphere model (north lobe for away sectors and south lobe for toward sectors). Electron anisotropy and magnetic field data are presented which show the transition from unidirectional (sheath) electron populations to bidirectional (lobe) populations. Taken together, the present evidence suggests that the bidirectional electrons that we observe in the distant tail are closely related to the Polar rain electrons observed previously at lower altitudes. Furthermore, these data provide strong evidence that the distant tail is comprised largely of open magnetic field lines in contra distinction to some recently advanced models.

Baker, D. N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Magnetic configuration of the distant plasma sheet - ISEE 3 observations

The influence of the IMF orientation and magnitude and substorm activity on the magnetic configuration of the central plasma sheet at 20-240 earth radii down the geomagnetic tail is investigated on the basis of ISEE-3 data. The results are presented graphically, and high-speed antisolar bulk flows threaded by southward magnetic fields are shown to be present in the distant plasma sheet after periods of substorm activity and southward IMF Bz. The effective dayside reconnection efficiency is estimated as 25 + or - 4 percent, in good agreement with theoretical models.

Slavin, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

ISEE 3 magnetopause crossings - Evidence for the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability

The role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in driving magnetopause motion is investigated on the basis of correlated ISEE-3 magnetometer measurements and IMP-8 solar-wind/magnetosheath velocities. The data are presented in graphs and briefly characterized, comparing the daily frequency of magnetopause crossings by ISEE-3 with the velocities. It is found that the instability criterion for longitudinal waves is only rarely satisfied in these measurements, while that for waves with an azimuthal component is satisfied in over 50 percent of the cases. It is inferred that the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is probably the cause of motions with magnetotail-boundary interarrival times of 20 min or less.

Sibeck, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Plasma and magnetic field variations in the distant magnetotail associated with near-earth substorm effects

Examination of many individual event periods in the ISEE 3 deep-tail data set has suggested that magnetospheric substorms produce a characteristic pattern of effects in the distant magnetotail. During the growth, or tail-energy-storage phase of substorms, the magnetotail appears to grow diametrically in size, often by many earth radii. Subsequently, after the substorm expansive phase onset at earth, the distant tail undergoes a sequence of plasma, field, and energetic-particle variations as large-scale plasmoids move rapidly down the tail following their disconnection from the near-earth plasma sheet. ISEE 3 data are appropriate for the study of these effects since the spacecraft remained fixed within the nominal tail location for long periods. Using newly available auroral electrojet indices (AE and AL) and Geo particle data to time substorm onsets at earth, superposed epoch analyses of ISEE 3 and near-earth data prior to, and following, substorm expansive phase onsets have been performed. These analyses quantify and extend substantially the understanding of the deep-tail pattern of response to global substorm-induced dynamical effects.

Baker, D. N.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The P/Giacobini-Zinner magnetotail

On September 11, 1985 the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) passed behind comet Giacobini-Zinner with a closest approach distance of 7800 km. In agreement with Alfven's interplanetary magnetic field line draping model of cometary type 1 tails, a well defined 10,000 km diameter magnetotail was observed downstream of the inner coma. The ICE magnetic field, plasma electron, plasma wave, and energetic ion observations are used to investigate the structure and stability of the Giacobini-Zinner magnetic tail. Cometary and planetary magnetotails are compared. The ICE magnetotail observations are discussed in relation to the global solar wind interaction with P/Giacobini-Zinner.

Slavin, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Observations of heavy energetic ions far upstream from Comet Halley

On March 25, 1986, when the ICE spacecraft came within 28 million km of the nucleus of comet Halley, and for several days around this time, bursts of heavy ions were observed by the ICE energetic ion experiment. The bursts were observed only during periods when the solar wind velocity was considerably higher than its nominal value. The characteristics of these ions, in particular their anisotropies, were examined. Using the well known formulae for transformation of distributions from the solar wind frame of reference to the spacecraft frame, the angular distributions expected from either protons, or heavy ions from the water group, were studied, showing that the measurements are consistent with heavy ions, and not with protons. Other sources of heavy ions are considered, and the most likely source of these ions is comet Halley.

Sanderson, T. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Observations of cometary plasma wave phenomena

The ICE plasma wave investigation utilized very long electric antennas (100 m tip-to-tip) and a very high sensitivity magnetic search coil to obtain significant local information on plasma physics phenomena occurring in the distant pickup regions of Comet Giacobini-Zinner and Comet Halley; and information on the processes that developed in the coma and tail of Giacobini-Zinner. The ICE plasma wave measurements associated with both comet encounters are summarized, and high sensitivity ICE observations are related to corresponding measurements from the other Halley spacecraft.

Scarf, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The Comet Giacobini-Zinner magnetotail: Axial stresses and inferred near-nucleus properties

Utilizing the electron and magnetic field data from the ICE tail traversal of comet Giacobini-Zinner along with the MHD equations, a steady state, stress balance model of the cometary magnetotail was developed, and used to infer important but unmeasured ion properties within the magnetotail at ICE and upstream at the average point along each streamline where cometary ions are picked-up. The derived tailward ion flow speed at ICE is quite constant at approx. -20 to -30 km/sec across the entire tail. The flow velocity, ion temperature, density, and ion source rates upstream from the lobes (current sheet) at the average pick-up locations are approx. -75 km/sec (approx. -12), approx. 4 million K (approx. 100,000), approx. 20 cc (approx. 400), and approx. 15 cu cm/sec. Gradients in the plasma properties between the two regions are quite strong. Implications of inferred plasma properties for the near-nucleus region and for cometary magnetotail formation are examined.

Mccomas, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Steepened magnetosonic waves in the high beta plasma surrounding Comet Giacobini-Zinner

Studies of intense hydromagnetic waves at Giacobini-Zinner are extended to investigate the mode and direction of wave propagation. Simultaneous high-resolution measurements of electron density fluctuations demonstrate that long period waves propagate in the magnetosonic mode. Principal axis analyses of the long period waves and accompanying partial rotations show that the sum of the wave phase rotations is 360 deg, indicating that both are parts of the same wave oscillation. The time sequence of the steepened waveforms observed by ICE shows that the waves must propagate towards the Sun with Cph less than Vsw. Observations are consistent with wave generation by resonant ion ring or ion beam instability which predicts right-hand polarized waves propagating in the ion beam (solar) direction. The large amplitudes and small scale sizes of the cometary waves suggest that rapid pitch-angle scattering and energy transfer with energetic ions should occur. Since the waves are highly compressive, first-order Fermi acceleration is forecast.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Analysis of the Giacobini-Zinner bow wave

The cometary bow wave of P/Giacobini-Zinner was analyzed using the ICE field and particle observations to determine if it is a shock. Changes in the magnetic field and plasma flow velocities from upstream to downstream were analyzed to determine the direction of the normal and the propagation velocity of the bow wave. The velocity was compared with the fast magnetosonic wave speed upstream to derive the Mach number and establish whether it is supersonic, i.e., a shock, or subsonic, i.e., a large amplitude wave. The measurements were compared with values derived from a Rankine-Hugoniot analysis. The results indicate that inbound the bow wave is a shock with M = 1.5. Outbound, a subsonic Mach number is obtained. However, arguments that the bow wave is also likely to be a shock at this location are presented.

Smith, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The structure of a cometary type I tail - Ground-based and ICE observations of P/Giacobini-Zinner

Comparison of ground-based and in situ observations of P/Giacobini-Zinner are used to investigate the morphology of a type I cometary tail. ICE magnetic field and plasma measurements show a well-defined cometary magnetotail composed of two magnetic lobes in pressure equilibrium with a central plasma sheet. A dependence of ion tail width on IMF direction is found which strongly suggests that the classical type I ion tails observed on the ground consist predominantly of emissions from the slab-shaped plasma sheet separating the magnetic lobes. The width of the G-Z magnetotail is determined to be 9.8 (+ or - 0.5) x 10 to the 3rd km with a quasi-circular cross section. The results of this study also indicate that some of the dynamical thinnings and thickenings observed in long type I tails may be caused by IMF variations changing the angle with which the plasma sheet is viewed at earth.

Slavin, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A test of Lee's quasi-linear theory of ion acceleration by interplanetary traveling shocks

Lee's (1983) quasi-linear theory of ion acceleration is tested using ISEE-3 measurements of the November 12, 1978 quasi-parallel interplanetary shock. His theory accounts with varying degrees of precision for the energetic proton spatial profiles; the dependence of the spectral index of the power law proton velocity distribution upon the shock compression ratio; the power law dependence of the upstream proton scalelength upon energy; the absolute magnitude of the upstream proton scale length; the behavior of the energetic proton anisotropy upstream and downstream of the shock; the behavior of the alpha-particle proton ratio upstream; the equality of the spatial scale lengths at the shock of the upstream waves and of the protons that resonate with them; and the dependence of the integrated wave energy density upon the proton energy density at the shock. However, the trace magnetic field frequency spectra disagree with his theory in two ways. The part of the spectrum that can resonate with the observed protons via first-order cyclotron resonance is flat, whereas Lee's theory predicts an f exp - 7/4 frequency dependence for the November 12 shock. Higher frequency waves, which could not resonate with the observed upstream protons, increased in amplitude as the shock approached, suggesting that they too were generated by the shock.

Kennel, C. F.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Subcritical and supercritical interplanetary shocks - Magnetic field and energetic particle observations

A study of 34 forward interplanetary shocks observed by ISEE 3 during 1978 and 1979 has been conducted. Magnetic field and high-energy particle data have been used, and for each shock the first critical Mach number has been determined. The first surprising result is that the majority of the observed shocks appear to be supercritical, and consistent with their supercritical character, many shocks have a foot and/or an overshoot in the magnetic field structure. Large-amplitude low-frequency waves (period of about 20 s in the spacecraft frame) are commonly observed upstream of all supercritical shocks (except for a few quasi-perpendicular shocks) and also upstream of the few subcritical shocks. Intense particle events are frequently observed at many shocks: spikes at quasi-perpendicular shocks and energetic storm particle events associated with quasi-parallel shocks can be comparably intense. The correlation of the high-energy particle peak flux with various shock parameters is in agreement with the acceleration mechanisms proposed by previous studies.

Bavassano-Cattaneo, M. B.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A disturbance of the ion tail of Comet Halley and the heliospheric structure as observed by Sakigake

In order to study the interaction between the solar wind measured by Sakigake and ion tail disturbances of comet Halley, more than 500 photographs of the comet taken on the ground during this apparition are surveyed. The focus of the present study is the December 31, 1985, event, when various types of disturbances occurred, including an outstanding disconnection event (DE)-like knot. Analysis of the Sakigake/IMF data reveals that comet Halley did not encounter the heliospheric neutral sheet on that day, demanding a new explanation for the DE-like event, different from the Niedner-Brandt model. During this event the comet encountered a high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole tongue of the sun. The event can be explained by a dynamic pressure model, according to which the DE-like plasmoid was caused by a sudden increase in the dynamic pressure of the solar wind. A result of the simulation work by Ogino is found to support this interpretation.

Saito, T.↗

NASA NTRS1986

ICE plasma wave measurements in the ion pick-up region of Comet Halley

In late March 1986 the plasma wave instrument on the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) detected sporadic bursts of strong plasma turbulence with average wave characteristics very similar to those detected six months earlier, during the ICE traversal of the Comet Giacobini-Zinner (G-Z) heavy ion pick-up region. In both cases the observations of enhanced wave levels were generally correlated with simultaneous detection of energetic ions. The 1986 activity is interpreted in terms of plasma instabilities associated with solar wind pick-up of ions produced by heavy neutrals from Comet Halley. On March 25, when the distance between Comet Halley and ICE was 28.1 million kilometers, the ICE-to-comet range was about six times greater than the distance that marked the measured outer boundary of the turbulent heavy ion pick-up region of G-Z. Based on comparison with G-Z data and with earlier Halley observations, plausible arguments suggest that in late March, Halley should have produced detectable levels of energetic ions and associated plasma turbulence in a region with a spatial extent of 30-40 million kilometers.

Scarf, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

In-situ observations of cometary pick-up ions greater than 0.2 AU upstream of Comet Halley - ICE observations

Burst-like enhancements of energetic ions were observed by the EPAS instrument on the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) during its closest approach to (28 x 10 to the 6th km upstream of) Comet P/Halley, in late March 1986. The ion intensity was modulated by the varying solar wind speed (the latter reaching maxima of around 600 km/s), as was found to be the case for heavy cometary ions accelerated by pick-up in the solar wind flow, during the ICE encounter with Comet P/Giacobini-Zinner (G-Z). Therefore it is concluded that the observed pick-up ions (most probably greater than or equal to 65 keV oxygen ions) are produced by heavy neutrals from Comet Halley. The observations of energetic ions at such large distances suggest the presence, in the neutral atmosphere surrounding the nucleus, of a component with an ionization scale length of 5-10 million km, resulting from a relatively high expansion speed of a few km/s and/or an ionization time scale of a few times 10 to the 6ths.

Wenzel, K.-P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Plasma wave turbulence in the strong coupling region at comet Giacobini-Zinner

Within 100,000 km of comet Giacobini-Zinner's nucleus, strong plasma wave turbulence was detected by the ICE electric and magnetic field wave instruments. The spatial profiles of the wave amplitudes are compared with measurements of the heavy ion fluxes of cometary origin, the plasma electron density, and the magnetic field strength. The general similarity of the wave and heavy ion profiles suggest that the waves might be generated by free energy in the pick-up ion distribution function. However, the expected parallel streaming instability of electrostatic modes generates waves with frequencies that are too low to explain the observations. The observed low frequency magnetic turbulence is plausibly explained by the lower hybrid loss-cone instability of heavy ions.

Coroniti, F. V.↗