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Smith, E. J.

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

At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Wave-particle interactions at the magnetopause - Contributions to the dayside aurora

The observations on ISEE 1 and ISEE 2 correlate the presence of intense electromagnetic and electrostatic emissions with enhanced fluxes of 1-6 keV electrons at the earth's magnetopause. The measured proton to electron ratio in the 1-10 keV energy range indicates the presence of substantial fluxes of electrons at energies below 1 keV. The 1.3-1.7 keV proton flux was essentially unchanged as the spacecraft moved from the magnetosheath into the wave-particle layer at and inside the magnetopause. The consequences of the magnetopause wave-particle interactions reported are consistent with the known features of the dayside aurora.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The Parker spiral configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field between 1 and 8.5 AU

The magnetic field data from the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft show that the field directions between 1 and 8.5 AU are in accordance with the Parker spiral directions within quiet and interaction regions. The included angle between the inward and outward sectored field directions is near 180 deg; the field direction manifests greater variability in quiet regions than in interaction zones. The fractional polarities below 10 deg heliographic latitude are dominated by temporal variations; however, dual-spacecraft investigations permitted a significant latitudinal gradient to be extracted. The sector structure extended occasionally to 16 deg heliographic latitude during the period of average current sheet inclination in 1976; it is proposed that the fast streams associated with interaction regions may move the current sheet to higher latitudes when the source of the fast plasma is in the southern solar hemisphere.

Thomas, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Saturn's magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind

The paper deals with the Pioneer 11 vector helium magnetometer observations of Saturn's planetary magnetic field, magnetosphere, magnetopause, and bow shock. Models based on spherical harmonic analyses of measurements inside 8 Saturn radii show that the planetary field has a high degree of symmetry about the rotation axis. The vector dipole moment has a tilt angle of less than 1 deg and is offset along the polar axis by 0.04 plus or minus 0.02 Saturn radius. Equatorial offsets derived from the models show pronounced variability and could be consistent with a very small offset. Large impulsive field compressions are observed in the magnetosheath near noon. Multiple crossings of the bow shock are observed, and the absence of significant changes in field direction indicates that it is quasi-perpendicular.

Smith, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A possible magnetic wake of Titan - Pioneer 11 observations

The paper deals with measurements of the magnetic field along the outbound leg of Pioneer's trajectory at Saturn, which suggest that the spacecraft may have passed through the magnetic wake of Titan at a distance of 145 Titan radii downstream from Titan. The data obtained over a period of several hours around the crossing of Titan's L shell exhibit a number of characteristics which are qualitatively consistent with predictions based on theories of the interaction between a supersonic magnetized plasma and a conducting or magnetized planetary body. In addition, values of the plasma mass density derived from the interaction geometry are consistent with an upper limit inferred from in situ plasma measurements obtained during the outbound leg of Pioneer's trajectory.

Jones, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Comparison of ISEE-1 and -3 interplanetary magnetic field observations

Three hourly correlation coefficients and the lag at maximum correlation are computed using one minute averages of ISEE-1 and -3 magnetometer data during the period in which ISEE-3 moved from the earth to its halo orbit around the libration point. The maximum correlation coefficients are highly variable ranging from close to zero to almost unity. The lags, while on the average approximating the expected corotation delay, have very large departures from this value. These results suggest that the normals to the planes separating fields of differing orientation often make large angles to the ecliptic plane and/or that the interplanetary magnetic field has a significant amount of bending on a scale length the order of 200 earth radii. Furthermore, there often appears to be a significant amount of propagating structure in the IMF. Thus, ISEE-3 magnetic field measurements should be used with caution if precise timing of arrival at the earth or precise directions of the field upon arrival are important.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Correlated whistler and electron plasma oscillation bursts detected on ISEE-3

The ISEE-3 plasma wave instrument detects associated bursts of electron plasma oscillations and whistler mode waves at an average rate of event one every two days. The plasma wave measurements give the electron number density, and simultaneously measured E and B amplitudes are used to deduce an index of refraction consistent with whistler mode propagation for the measured number density and magnetic field. Burst durations are a few minutes, with some trains of bursts lasting up to an hour. Individual spectral scans (two per second) reveal that the whistler and plasma wave amplitude-time profiles differ within a burst. Peak plasma wave amplitudes are near one mV/m, and the peak whistler mode energy density exceeds that of the plasma oscillations by about a factor 100. The frequency of the whistler mode wave observed in one well diagnosed event agrees with the predictions of the heat flux whistler instability theory. The associated plasma wave instability probably requires a bump-on-tail feature in the heat flux electron component, possibly due to impulsive heating elsewhere on the field-line connecting to ISEE-3.

Kennel, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Saturn's magnetic field and magnetosphere

Results of Pioneer Saturn vector helium magnetometer measurements of the magnetic field and magnetosphere of Saturn are reported. The detection of a bow shock at 23.7 Saturn radii and the magnetosphere crossing at 17.4 Saturn radii suggest an equatorial surface field of 0.3 gauss, which is similar to that of the earth, and the polarity of the field is observed to be similar to that of Jupiter and opposite to the earth's. An increase of magnetic field strength with decreasing radius indicates the dipole nature of the magnetic field, which modified by the compression of the magnetosphere by the solar wind and the presence of a ring current in the middle magnetosphere. Inversions of the field measurements to obtain equivalent dipole source vectors reveal that the tilt angle between the magnetic dipole and the rotation axis is less than 1 deg, and spherical harmonic analysis of the data indicates that the magnetic field is more uniform than those of the earth and Jupiter, consistent with a small Saturn core. An apparent hydromagnetic wake associated with Titan was also observed.

Smith, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Mars in the solar wind

Recent spacecraft observations and model calculations of the solar wind interaction (SWI) at Mars have shown that the particle pressure is not large enough to stand off the solar wind unless the electron temperature is 4 times the ion temperature in the ionosphere, but the additional pressure is presumably magnetic, provided by a planetary magnetic field. In addition, a planetary field corresponding to a surface field of about 20 gammas, and a dipole moment of about 8 x 10 to the 21st gauss per cu cm are implied. Calculations indicate that 60-70% of the pressure is supplied by the magnetic field, and 30-40% by the ionosphere. Thus, the SWI at Mars is unique, being an interaction both with the atmosphere and with the planetary magnetic field.

Intriligator, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Plasma wave turbulence at the magnetopause - Observations from ISEE 1 and 2

An investigation of plasma wave electric and magnetic fields in the vicinity of the magnetopause using measurements from the ISEE 1 and 2 spacecraft is presented. Strong electric and magnetic field turbulence is often observed at the magnetopause; the electric field spectrum of this turbulence extends from less than a few hertz to over 100 kHz, and the magnetic field from a few hertz to about 1 kHz. Similar turbulence spectra are observed in association with flux transfer events and possible 'inclusions' of boundary layer plasma in the magnetosphere. Two possible plasma instabilities, the electrostatic ion-cyclotron and the lower-hybrid-drift instability, should explain the broad-band electric field turbulence; the narrow-band electrostatic emissions near the local electron plasma frequency are believed to be plasma oscillations or electrostatic waves near the upper-hybrid-resonance frequency.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Acceleration of energetic protons by interplanetary shocks

The University of Iowa instrument aboard Pioneer 11 detected 69 energetic proton events (EPE) (in the 0.6-3.4 MeV energy range) during 1973-1974 in the heliocentric radial range 1-5 AU. Sixty percent of the EPE peak within plus or minus 5 hours of a corotating interaction region (CIR) boundary, while 19% peak inside and 21% peak outside the interaction regions. Of the CIR boundaries at which an EPE peaks with plus or minus 5 hours, 80% have associated shocks. The observed intensities and pitch angle distributions of protons near shock fronts are consistent with a theoretical simulation of the acceleration of protons by a drift in the electric field at the shock front.

Pesses, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Jupiter's magnetopause

Some of the major conclusions regarding the magnetopause of Jupiter, based on Pioneer and Voyager observations, are discussed. Topics include the overall shape of the magnetosphere, the variability in the location of the magnetopause with changes in the solar wind, intrinsic magnetospheric motions, the character of the field and plasma just inside the magnetopause and evidence of magnetic merging.

Smith, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Interplanetary discontinuities - Temporal variations and the radial gradient from 1 to 8.5 AU

A dependence of the rate of occurrence and properties of interplanetary discontinuities on radial distance were investigated using Pioneer 10 and 11 vector helium magnetometer observations. Spatial and temporal variations were separated and discontinuities identified, noting that their rate of occurrence undergoes large variations well outside the deviations expected from statistical fluctuations. Temporal changes in the occurrence rate averaged over Bartels solar rotations were well correlated at Pioneer 10 and 11, separated by a distance of 2 AU, and time variations consisted of slow modulation of the occurrence rate due to changing solar conditions. The correlation over widely separated distances is interpreted by a model in which the discontinuities originate inside 1 AU and are convected outward by the solar wind. Evidence of spatial dependence was provided by a decrease in the rates of occurrence at both spacecraft with increasing radial distance, and it was shown that the Pioneer 11 rate, nearer the sun, exceeded the Pioneer 10 rate at greater distances.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Interplanetary magnetic fields

The paper reviews the following studies on interplanetary magnetic fields: (1) the relation of the interplanetary field to the sun and to solar-wind streams; (2) radial gradients in the solar wind and interplanetary field; (3) shocks, hydromagnetic waves and discontinuities; (4) variations of interplanetary field parameters over the solar cycle; (5) the relation between the interplanetary field and the terrestrial magnetosphere; (6) the internal dynamics of the magnetic field and solar wind plasma; and (7) the transport, acceleration, and modulation of energetic particles, including cosmic rays. It is noted that further studies will relate to the complex relations between the interplanetary field and solar structure.

Smith, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Fields and plasmas in the outer solar system

The most significant data on fields and plasmas in the outer solar system, based on observations by Pioneer 10 and 11, are reviewed. Attention is given to (1) corotating shocks and the evolution of high speed solar wind streams, (2) the effect of the changing structure of the interplanetary medium on energetic particles, (3) the propagation of flare-generated shocks through the outer solar system, (4) radial gradients in the solar wind and interplanetary field, and (5) the dependence of the interplanetary sector structure on heliographic latitude.

Smith, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Initial results from the ISEE-1 and -2 plasma wave investigation

A survey of initial results from the plasma-wave investigation on the ISEE 1 and 2 spacecraft is presented. The plasma-wave instruments employed are designed to provide measurements of the electric and magnetic fields of plasma waves over the frequency range from about 5 Hz to 300 kHz. Several representative satellite passes are analyzed in detail and discussed. The results considered are shown to demonstrate the very high-quality data being obtained with the instruments and to illustrate the wide range of magnetospheric plasma-physics problems that can be treated with the ISEE spacecraft. Comparisons of plasma-wave spectra between the two spacecraft are performed which indicate the great advantages of using two spacecraft in similar orbits to unravel the complex spatial and temporal variations that occur in the magnetosphere.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The magnetic field of Jupiter - A comparison of radio astronomy and spacecraft observations

The inner magnetic field of Jupiter is characterized on the basis of Pioneer 10 and 11 measurements and earth-based decimetric radio observations. The dipole parameters derived from the two data sets are in good agreement. Problems in reconciling asymmetries observed in the earth-based data and the spacecraft data are discussed. Models of synchrotron emission from arbitrary magnetic field configurations and high-resolution maps of the Jovian radiation belts in all polarizations are needed to further understanding of Jupiter's magnetic field

Smith, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Does ELF chorus show evidence of power line stimulation

A study to determine the effect of power line radiation on the stimulation of the ELF chorus detected on OGO-5 is presented. Chorus shows a maxima over the Eastern USSR, Greenland, and Central Siberia and minima over central and Eastern Canada, a distribution different than the OGO-3. This discrepancy is explained as due to data oversampling in the previous study; the OGO-5 data were reanalyzed with the oversampling removed, showing that none of the longitudinal maxima or minima are statistically significant. It is concluded that there is no significant correlation between longitude and chorus occurrence which implies that there is little or no evidence of power line harmonic radiation effects on chorus triggering.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗