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At least 181 records · Page 10

A study of solar flare soft X rays and their relation to particle events observed with IMP 8

Data from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory charged particle measurement experiment aboard IMP 8 was used to study solar flare events and find correlations between soft X rays (4-17 A) and particle events. The results show that a greater probability exists of observing a proton event if the observed soft X ray flare has a relatively large decay time. It is also found that the H-alpha brightening area is a good indicator of the strength of the soft X ray burst. Results also show that the strength of the soft X ray burst can be used to estimate a probability that a proton event will occur, along with the strength of that particle event.

Nonnast, J. H.↗

Solar wind deceleration and MHD turbulence in the earth's foreshock region - ISEE 1 and 2 and IMP 8 observations

The interaction of the solar wind with ions backstreaming from the earth's bow shock is investigated using plasma and magnetic field measurements on ISEE 1 and 2 and IMP 8 at widely separated positions in the earth's foreshock. This technique separates temporal and spatial variations within the foreshock. It is found that the solar wind acceleration associated with backstreaming ions is correlated with the amplitude of the MHD turbulence, and that the largest decelerations are seen close to the bow shock. The density of the backstreaming ion beam is strongly correlated with distance from the shock, and decreases by about a factor of three in a distance of about 3R(e).

Bonifazi, C.↗

Dependence of 50-keV upstream ion events at IMP 7 and 8 upon magnetic field bow shock geometry

Results are presented for a statistical study of four years (1972-1976) of IMP 7 and 8 observations at approximately 40 R(E) of 50-200 keV upstream ion events measured with the Energetic Particle Experiment. A monotonic increase in the probability of observing upstream particle events is found with a decrease in the angle (theta-Bn) between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the local shock normal at the point where the IMF intersects the bow shock, independent of the length of time of bow shock connections exceeding approximately 10 min. Approximately equal probabilities are found for observing an event above a given flux from any portion of the bow shock with the same value of theta-Bn, a growth time of the 50-200 keV events of approximately 10 min, a maximum attainable flux of approximately 25,000/sq cm s sr, and a positive correlation between the probability of exceeding a given flux and the 3 hr Kp index. It is concluded that the local structure of the bow shock in the immediate vicinity of the field line connection is the dominant influence in the generation process of energetic upstream particle events and that wave-particle interactions produce a self-throttling mechanism that limits the maximum flux of ions escaping the upstream foreshock.

Mitchell, D. G.↗

Reduction and analysis of data from experiment CAI on the IMP-8 mission

The Caltech Electron/Isotope Spectrometer (EIS) on the Interplanetary Monitoring Platform 8 (IMP-8) has provided precise measurements of the energy spectra and time variations of low energy electrons (0.16 to 6 MeV), the isotopes of hydrogen and helium (approximately 2 to 40 MeV/nucleon), and the elements from lithium through oxygen (approximately 5 to 50 MeV/nucleon) in energetic particle fluxes of solar, galactic, interplanetary, and magnetospheric origin since 1973. The accomplishments that have resulted from EIS measurements during the period March 24, 1980 to December 31, 1984 are summarized.

Stone, E. C.↗

Studies of the interplanetary magnetic field: IMP's to Voyager

During the last two decades, spacecraft projects and individual experiments for which Frank McDonald was a leader have contributed very significantly to the current understanding of the structure of interplanetary space and the correlation between solar and interplanetary disturbances. Studies on the IMP, HELIOS, and Pioneer spin-stabilized spacecraft and the larger attitude-stabilized Voyager spacecraft have provided data sets from which the modern view of the heliosphere has evolved. That concept in which the inner solar system is shown to be dominated by individual streams associated with specific source regions on the Sun is illustrated. As these high-speed streams overtake the preexisting solar plasma, they coalesce and modify the characteristics so that at larger heliocentric distances, these disturbances appear as radially propagating concentric shells of compressed magnetic fields and enhanced fluctuations

Ness, Norman F.↗

Interplanetary Alfven waves and auroral (substorm) activity - IMP 8

Almost 1 year of IMP 8 interplanetary magnetic field and plasma data (days 1-312, 1979) have been examined to determine the interplanetary causes of geomagnetic AE activity. The nature of the interplanetary medium (Alfvenic or non-Alfvenic) and the B(s) correlation with AE were examined over 12-hour increments throughout the study. It is found that Alfvenic wave intervals are present over 60 percent of the time, and the southward component of the Alfven waves is well correlated with AE (average peak correlation coefficient 0.62), with a median lag of 43 min. From this statistical study, no major differences in the magnetospheric response to Alfvenic and non-Alfvenic intervals were obvious. The high-intensity long-duration continuous AE activity (HILDCAA) events discussed previously by Tsurutani and Gonzales (1987) are demonstrated to be caused by the southward components of the Alfven waves, presumably through the process of magnetic reconnection.

Tsurutani, Bruce T.↗

A search for charged massive particles in IMP 8 data

Data from the IMP 8 satellite are used here to rule out charged massive particles (CHAMPs) with masses between 2.4 and 56,000 TeV as the source of the dark matter in the Galactic halo. This limit is achieved under the assumption that CHAMPs are virialized.

Snowden-Ifft, D. P.↗

The February 1986 solar activity - A comparison of Giotto, Vega-1, and IMP-8 solar wind measurements with MHD simulations

Large disturbances in the interplanetary medium were observed by several spacecraft during a period of enhanced solar activity in early February 1986. The locations of six solar flares and the spacecraft considered here encompassed more than 100 deg of heliolongitude. These flares during the minimum of cycle 21 set the stage for an extensive multispacecraft comparison performed with a two-dimensional, MHD numerical experiment. The plasma instruments on the Giotto spacecraft, on its way to encounter Comet Halley in March 1986, made measurements of the solar wind for up to 8 hours/day during February. Solar wind measurements from the Johnstone Plasma Analyzer experiment on Giotto are compared with the MHD simulation of the interplanetary medium throughout these events. Using plasma data obtained by the IMP-8 satellite in addition, it appears that an extended period of high solar wind speed is required as well as the simulated flares to represent the interplanetary medium in this case. The plasma and magnetometer data from Vega-1 is compared with the MHD simulation. This comparison tends to support an interpretation that the major solar wind changes at both Giotto and Vega-1 on February 8, 1986 were due to a shock from a W 05 deg solar flare on February 6, 1986 (06:25 UT). The numerical experiment is considered, qualitatively, to resemble the observations at the former spacecraft, but it has less success at the latter one.

Dryer, M.↗

Bidirectional MeV/n ion intervals - Observations from the Goddard Space Flight Center instruments on the ISEE 3/ICE, IMP 8, Helios 1 and Helios 2 spacecraft

A search is made for intervals of bidirectional energetic ion streaming in approximately 1 MeV data from the instruments on ISEE 3/ICE, IMP 8 and Helios 1 and 2 during 1973 to 1989. The longest duration intervals are found around solar maximum, consistent with the expected association with coronal mass ejections. The ISEE 3/ICE intervals are associated with previously identified bidirectional 35-1000 keV ions and solar-wind electron heat fluxes, though additional bidirectional intervals are found.

Richardson, I. G.↗

Multi-satellite observations of plasmoids - IMP 8 and ISEE 3

An examination of IMP 8 and ISEE 3 magnetotail data during the 1983 Geotail Mission yielded one plasmoid event which was observed by both satellites and two other possible cases. These are the first multisatellite observations of plasoids. These observations provide a unique opportunity to examine how plasmoid characteristics change as plasmoids propagate downtail and they show that plasmoids are very stable structures.

Moldwin, Mark B.↗

IMP: A performance code

IMP (Integrated Mission Program) is a simulation language and code used to model present and future Earth, Moon, or Mars missions. The profile is user controlled through selection from a large menu of events and maneuvers. A Fehlberg 7/13 Runge-Kutta integrator with error and step size control is used to numerically integrate the differential equations of motion (DEQ) of three spacecraft, a main, a target, and an observer. Through selection, the DEQ's include guided thrust, oblate gravity, atmosphere drag, solar pressure, and Moon gravity effects. Guide parameters for thrust events and performance parameters of velocity changes (Delta-V) and propellant usage (maximum of five systems) are developed as needed. Print, plot, summary, and debug files are output.

Dauro, Vincent A., Sr.↗

Bidirectional about 1 MeV/amu ion intervals in 1973-1991 observed by the Goddard Space Flight Center instruments on IMP 8 and ISEE 3/ICE

Bidirectional energetic ion flows (BIFs) in the solar wind at 1AU during 1973-1991 are examined on the basis of about 1 MeV/amu data from the Goddard Space Flight Center instruments on ISEE3/ICE and IMP 8. BIFs are observed more frequently around solar maximum, when they are observed about 12 percent of the time compared with about 5 percent at solar minimum. Intervals with durations greater than 4 hr are observed on average approximately every 3-4 d at solar maximum and every 2 wk at solar minimum, with about 33 percent of these intervals following within 2 d of an interplanetary shock. Various coronal mass ejection signatures and BIFs greater than 1 MeV/amu usually do not coincide exactly, and additional bidirectional ion events are identified.

Richardson, I. G.↗

The structure of the inner heliosphere from Pioneer Venus and IMP observations

The IMP 8 and Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) spacecraft explore the region of heliographic latitudes between 8 deg N and 8 deg S. Solar wind observations from these spacecraft are used to construct synoptic maps of solar wind parameters in this region. These maps provide an explicit picture of the structure of high speed streams near 1 AU and how that structure varies with time. From 1982 until early 1985, solar wind parameters varied little with latitude. During the last solar minimum, the solar wind developed strong latitudinal structure; high speed streams were excluded from the vicinity of the solar equator. Synoptic maps of solar wind speed are compared with maps of the coronal source surface magnetic field. This comparison reveals the expected correlation between solar wind speed near 1 AU, the strength of the coronal magnetic field, and distance from the coronal neutral line.

Gazis, P. R.↗

Pioneer Venus and IMP 8 observations of the latitude dependence of the solar wind

Solar wind speeds and magnetic field data from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (0.7 AU) and IMP 8 (1 AU) have been compared to infer the latitudinal structure of the solar wind in the inner heliosphere between 1984 and 1987. The solar wind in the inner heliosphere was found to exhibit an unusual structure during the last solar minimum (1986-1987). High-speed streams were excluded from the vicinity of the solar equator, and the solar wind at low heliographic latitudes (less than 3 deg) was characterized by low-speed solar wind with irregular fluctuations in velocity. At higher latitudes the solar wind had a conventional stream structure with two high-speed streams per solar rotation. While the velocities of these high-speed streams did not appear to vary significantly with latitude, the latitudinal gradients at the equatorward boundaries of high-speed streams were high.

Gazis, P. R.↗

Surface science capabilities from IMP spectral imaging

The Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) had a single 12-position filter wheel for one of its two 'eyes'. Originally eight, and then nine, of these filters were optimized for surface science, and three narrow-band filters for atmospheric science. Because of some design revisions we will now have filter wheels on both sides. The wheels for right and left eyes are identical, 12 filter positions each, and rigidly linked to the same rotation shaft. There are now 13 surface filters, in addition to 5 for atmospheric observations. Details of all the filter positions are tabulated and approximate gaussian bandpasses for the 13 surface filters are shown.

Singer, Robert B.↗

Studies using IMP, Voyager and Pioneer cosmic ray data to determine the size of the heliosphere

The purpose of this project was to use the cosmic ray data from the IMP, Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft in the heliosphere out to approximately 65 AU to estimate the size of the heliosphere. We used several techniques to develop a consistent picture of the size of the heliosphere. The first method used a response function approach which determined the intensity as a function of time by scaling the modulation effect as they move outward and eventually reach the boundary of the heliosphere. In this model the effects of transient cosmic ray disturbances is included. A second approach using the perturbation method in which drifts are considered as a perturbation to the standard diffusion-convection modulation models was not fully developed. In a third approach the location of the modulation boundary beyond the termination shock was estimated using observations of the intensity and radial gradients between Voyager 2 and Pioneer 10 along with new estimates of the interstellar intensity of more than 70 MeV galactic cosmic rays. Using this method we found that for 7 years, from 1983 to 1990, the modulation boundary remained constant at 83 +/- 5 AU. We infer from these studies that a modulation boundary can be estimated only by extrapolating the observed radial gradients when the solar magnetic field polarity is such that cosmic-ray particles are drifting in the heliosphere inward toward the Earth along the neutral sheet. The boundary distance is larger than the estimates of the location of the termination shock at 67 +/- 5 AU using the same method. Two other studies partially supported by this grant are attached. The first deals with the recovery period of the greater than 70 MeV cosmic rays in the outer heliosphere from 1992-1995. In the second paper we compare the rigidity dependence of the 11-year cosmic ray variation at the Earth in two cycles of opposite solar magnetic field polarity.

Lockwood, John A.↗