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At least 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

The interplanetary electric field, cleft currents and plasma convection in the polar caps

The relationship between the pattern of plasma convection in the polar cleft and the dynamics of the interplanetary electric field (IEF) is examined theoretically. It is shown that owing to the geometrical properties of the magnetosphere, the East-West component of the IEF will drive field-aligned currents which connect to the ionosphere at points lying on either side of noon, while currents associated with the North-South component of the IEF will connect the two polar caps as sheet currents, also centered at 12 MLT. In order to describe the consequences of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) effects upon high-latitude electric fields and convection patterns, a series of numerical simulations was carried out. The simulations were based on a solution to the steady-state equation of current continuity in a height-integrated ionospheric current. The simulations demonstrate that a simple hydrodynamical model can account for the narrow 'throats' of strong dayside antisunward convection observed during periods of southward interplanetary IMF drift, as well as the sunward convection observed during periods of strongly northward IMF drift.

Banks, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The excitation of plasma waves by a current source moving in a magnetized plasma - The MHD approximation

Alfven waves are important in natural-space phenomena, and studies of these waves have been conducted by performing active experiments in space plasma. One method to study these waves involves the use of an electrodynamic tether. The electrodynamic tether consists of a subsatellite with a conducting outer surface connected to the Space Shuttle by an insulator-clad, conducting wire about 20 kilometers in length. The emf generated by the motion of the tether across the geomagnetic field will act to drive a current through the tethered system. It is pointed out that this current in the tether acts as a source for exciting the shear-Alfven wave. In the present investigation it is shown that fringing effects play a dominant role in determining the radiation pattern for currently envisioned deployments of the tether. The current paper is the first of three papers concerned with the excitation of low-frequency waves arising from a current source moving through a cold, magnetized plasma.

Rasmussen, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The neutral wind 'flywheel' as a source of quiet-time, polar-cap currents

The neutral wind pattern over the summer polar cap can be driven by plasma convection to resemble the convection pattern. For a north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field Bz directed southward, the wind speeds in the conducting E-region can become approximately 25 percent of the electric field drift speeds. If convection ceases, this neutral wind distribution can drive a significant polar cap current system for approximately 6 hours. The currents are reversed from those driven by the electric fields for southward Bz, and the Hall and field-aligned components of the current system resemble those observed during periods of northward Bz. The current magnitudes are similar to those observed during periods of small, northward Bz; however, observations indicate that electric fields often contribute to the currents as much as, or more than, the neutral winds.

Lyons, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Coupled low-energy - ring current plasma diffusion in the Jovian magnetosphere

The outwardly diffusing Iogenic plasma and the simultaneously inwardly diffusing ring current plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere are described using a coupled diffusion model which incorporates the effects of the pressure gradient of the ring current into the cross-L diffusion coefficient. The coupled diffusion coefficient is derived by calculating the total energy available to drive the diffusion process. The condition is imposed that the diffusion coefficient takes on a local minimum value at some point in the region L = 7-8, at which point the gradient of the Io plasma density is specified as ramp value given by Siscoe et al. (1981). The hypothesis that the pressure gradient of the ring current causes the diminution of radial plasma transport is tested, and solution profiles for the Iogenic and ring current plasma densities are obtained which imply that the Io plasma ramp is caused by a high-density, low-energy component of the ring current hitherto unobserved directly.

Summers, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Correlated peak relative light intensity and peak current in triggered lightning subsequent return strokes

The correlation between peak relative light intensity L(R) and stroke peak current I(R) is examined for 39 subsequent return strokes in two triggered lightning flashes. One flash contained 19 strokes and the other 20 strokes for which direct measurements were available of the return stroke peak current at ground. Peak currents ranged from 1.6 to 21 kA. The measurements of peak relative light intensity were obtained from photographic streak recordings using calibrated film and microsecond resolution. Correlations, significant at better than the 0.1 percent level, were found for several functional relationships. Although a relation between L(R) and I(R) is evident in these data, none of the analytical relations considered is clearly favored. The correlation between L(R) and the maximum rate of current rise is also examined, but less correlation than between L(R) and I(R) is found. In addition, the peak relative intensity near ground is evaluated for 22 dart leaders, and a mean ratio of peak dart leader to peak return stroke relative light intensity was found to be 0.1 with a range of 0.02-0.23. Using two different methods, the peak current near ground in these dart leaders is estimated to range from 0.1 to 6 kA.

Idone, V. P.↗
NASA NTRS1985

ISEE-1 and 2 observations of field-aligned currents in the distant midnight magnetosphere

Magnetic field measurements obtained in the nightside magnetosphere by the co-orbiting ISEE-1 and 2 spacecraft have been examined for signatures of field-aligned currents (FAC). Such currents are found on the boundary of the plasma sheet both when the plasma sheet is expanding and when it is thinning. Evidence is often found for the existence of waves on the plasma sheet boundary, leading to multiple crossings of the FAC sheet. At times the boundary layer FAC sheet orientation is nearly parallel to the X-Z GSM plane, suggesting 'protrusions' of plasma sheet into the lobes. The boundary layer current polarity is, as expected, into the ionosphere in the midnight to dawn local time sector, and outward near dusk. Current sheet thicknesses and velocities are essentially independent of plasma sheet expansion or thinning, having typical values of 1500 km and 20-40 km/s respectively. Characteristic boundary layer current densities are about 10 nanoamps per square meter.

Elphic, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Ohm's law for a current sheet

The paper derives an Ohm's law for single-particle motion in a current sheet, where the magnetic field reverses in direction across the sheet. The result is considerably different from the resistive Ohm's law often used in MHD studies of the geomagnetic tail. Single-particle analysis is extended to obtain a self-consistency relation for a current sheet which agrees with previous results. The results are applicable to the concept of reconnection in that the electric field parallel to the current is obtained for a one-dimensional current sheet with constant normal magnetic field. Dissipated energy goes directly into accelerating particles within the current sheet.

Lyons, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Observations of field-aligned currents, waves, and electric fields at substorm onset

Substorm onsets, identified Pi 2 pulsations observed on the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Magnetometer Network, are studied using magnetometer and electric field data from ISEE 1 as well as magnetometer data from the geosynchronous satellites GOES 2 and 3. The mid-latitude magnetometer data provides the means of both timing and locating the substorm onset so that the spacecraft locations with respect to the substorm current systems are known. During two intervals, each containing several onsets or intensifications, ISEE 1 observed field-aligned current signatures beginning simultaneously with the mid-latitude Pi 2 pulsation. Close to the earth broadband bursts of wave noise were observed in the electric field data whenever field-aligned currents were detected. One onset occurred when ISEE 1 and GOES 2 were on the same field line but in opposite hemispheres. During this onset ISEE 1 and GOES 2 saw magnetic signatures which appear to be due to conjugate field-aligned currents flowing out of the western end of the westward auroral electrojets. The ISEE 1 signature is of a line current moving westward past the spacecraft. During the other interval, ISEE 1 was in the near-tail region near the midnight meridian. Plasma data confirms that the plasma sheet thinned and subsequently expanded at onset. Electric field data shows that the plasma moved in the opposite direction to the plasma sheet boundary as the boundary expanded which implies that there must have been an abundant source of hot plasma present. The plasma motion was towards the center of the plasma sheet and earthwards and consisted of a series of pulses rather than a steady flow.

Smits, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Field-aligned currents associated with substorms in the vicinity of synchronous orbit. I - The July 5, 1979, substorm observed by SCATHA, GOES 3, and GOES 2

Magnetic field topology and field-aligned current signatures in the vicinity of synchronous orbit are examined for a substorm on July 5, 1979. Changes from taillike to dipolar field geometry propagate earthward near the midnight meridian during the substorm. The major field-aligned currents producing a negative D perturbation at and around synchronous orbit are downward currents flowing into the auroral ionosphere on L shells greater than the synchronous spacecraft L shell. Although these currents are located initially on higher L shells, they shift toward the lower L shells as the change from taillike to dipolar fields propagates earthward. There may exist upward field-aligned currents located on smaller L shells in the limited longitudinal region near the meridian where mid-latitude D perturbations change their sign.

Nagai, T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

High latitude currents in the 0600 to 0900 MLT sector - Observations from Viking and DMSP-F7

High-resolution magnetic field and charged-particle data acquired on March 25, 1986 by the Viking and DMSP-F7 satellites, as they traversed the dawn sector auroral zone on nearly antiparallel trajectories within 40 min of each oher, are analyzed. Magnetic field measurements by Viking at 0850 MLT and by DMSP at 0630 MLT indicate the presence of a large-scale earthward-directed region 1 Birkeland current and an upward-flowing region 2 current. Both satellites also observed a third Birkeland current adjacent to and poleward of the region 1 system with opposite flow. This poleward system is about 0.5 deg invariant latitude wide and has a current density comparable to the region 1 and 2 systems. The highest-latitude current is identified as region 0. Its charged-particle signatures were used to infer field line mapping to the equatorial plane.

Bythrow, P. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Studies of storm-time ring current from the AMPTE/CCE MEPA measurements

The evolution of the ring current for the September 4-7, 1984 storm is studied with data from the Medium Energy Particle Analyzer on the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft. From an examination of particle pressures and current densities, it is found that the leading and trailing edges of particle injections are associated with depressions and enhancements of westward current densities, respectively. Based on the ion composition measurements which cover the bulk of the ring current population, the contribution of the O(+) ions to the westward ring current density is estimated to be no more than about 25 percent for this magnetic storm.

Lui, A. T. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A study of field-aligned currents observed at high and low altitudes in the nightside magnetosphere

Field-aligned current structures on auroral field lines observed at low and high altitudes using DE 1 and ISEE 2 magnetometer, and particle data observed when the spacecraft are in magnetic conjunction in the near-midnight magnetosphere, are investigated. To minimize latitudinal ambiguity, the plasma-sheet boundary layer observed with ISEE 2 and the discrete aurora at the poleward edge of the auroral oval with DE 1 are studied. The overall current observed at highest latitudes is flowing into the ionosphere, and is likely to be carried by ionospheric electrons flowing upward. There are, however, smaller-scale current structures within this region. The sense and magnitude of the field-aligned currents agree at the two sites. The ISEE 2 data suggests that the high-latitude downward current corresponds to the high-latitude boundary of the plasma-sheet boundary layer, and may be associated with the ion beams observed there.

Elphic, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Energy transport by energetic electrons released during solar flares. II - Current filamentation and plasma heating

Two-dimensional electrostatic particle simulations are performed in order to investigate energy transport associated with the propagation of energetic electrons through a flaring flux tube. Results indicate that as the energetic electrons flow outward, a return current of ambient plasma electrons is drawn inward (to maintain quasi-neutrality) which can be spatially separate from the primary current carried by the energetic electrons. Return current electrons are shown to accumulate on either side of the acceleration region of the energetic electrons, and depletions of ambient plasma electrons develop in the return current regions. Plasma ions accelerate across the field lines to produce current closure or charge neutralization, achieving energies comparable to those of the energetic electrons.

Winglee, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Birkeland currents and charged particles in the high-latitude prenoon region - A new interpretation

The relationship between Birkeland currents and charged particles in the ionosphere was investigated for the period between the late morning through early afternoon, using data on simultaneous conjugate measurements of magnetic fields and charged particles at low altitude in the high-latitude prenoon sector, acquired on November 1, 1984 by four spacecraft, IMP 8, AMPTE CCE, DMSP F7, and HILAT. The results of these observations indicate that, for both northward and southward IMF, the traditional 'cusp Birkeland currents' lie poleward of the most intense sheathlike particle precipitation, and it is likely that these currents map to the plasma mantle and are associated with divergent flow of ionospheric plasma near noon. It is suggested that the traditional 'cusp' current system might be more appropriately named the 'mantle' Birkeland current system.

Bythrow, P. F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Current collection by a long conducting cylinder in a flowing magnetized plasma

The numerical techniques, the definitions, and the normalizations used in the simulations of plasma flow past a long conducting cylinder with a magnetic field along the cylinder axis are described. The effect of cross-field plasma transport on the current collection without any contribution to the current from the field-aligned motion of the plasma particles is highlighted. The electric fields in the structure create a two-cell circulation of the electrons near the cylinder. The cell in the wake region has negative potentials. A fan-shaped circulation cell forms around the cylinder and in this cell the potential is generally positive. The geometry and the size of this positive cell affect the current collection. The potential structure around the cylinder is examined, along with its effect on the current collection and its oscillatory behavior. The variation of the time-average current as a function of the relative motion between the plasma and the cylinder is also investigated.

Singh, Nagendra↗
NASA NTRS1990

Current collection from an unmagnetized plasma: A tutorial

The current collected by a body in an unmagnetized plasma depends in general on: (1) the properties of the plasma; (2) the properties of the body; and (3) the properties of any neutral species that are present. The important plasma properties are the velocity distributions of the plasma particles at a location remote from the body (at infinity), and the Debye length which determines the importance of plasma space charge effects. The important body properties are its surface characteristics, namely the conductivity and secondary yield coefficients. The neutral species affect the current through collisions which impede the flow of current and possibly through ionization of the neutrals which can enhance the current. The technique for calculating the current collected by a body in a plasma is reviewed with special attention given to the distinction between orbit limited and space charge limited regimes, the asymptotic variation of the potential with distance from a body, and the concept of a sheath.

Whipple, Elden C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Current collection in a magnetoplasma

The authors present a survey of a very incomplete subject, current collection in a magnetoplasma. The best-developed and simplest theories for current collection are steady-state collisionless theories, and these must be understood before departures from them can be analyzed usefully. Thus, the authors begin with a review of them. The authors include some recent numerical results which indicate that steady-state collisionless Laplace-limit currents remain substantially below the Parker-Murphy (1967) canonical upper bound out to very large electrode potentials, and approach it as a limit only very slowly if at all. Attempts to correct this theory for space-charge effects lead to potential disturbances which extend to infinite distance along the electrode's magnetic shadow, unless collisional effects are also taken into account. However, even a small amount of relative plasma drift motion, such as that involved in a typical rocket experiment, can change this conclusion fundamentally. It is widely believed that time-averaged current collection may be increased by effects of plasma turbulence, and the authors review the available evidence for and against this contention. Steady-state collisionless particle dynamics predicts the existence of a toroidal region of trapped orbits which surrounds the electrode. Light emissions from this region have been photographed, indicating that collisional ionization may also occur there, and this, and/or scattering by collisions or possibly turbulent fluctuations in this region, may also increase current collection by the electrode. The authors also discuss effects on particle motions near the electrode, associated with breakdown of magnetic insulation in the region of large electric fields near it.

Laframboise, Jim G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Current collection in a flowing magnetoplasma

Effects of plasma drift on the current collection by a long conducting cylinder in a magnetized plasma is studied by means of a 2 1/2 dimensional PIC code. It is found that for the drift velocity (V sub 0) perpendicular to the magnetic field (B sub 0), the electron current collected by a positive cylinder is considerably enhanced depending on the drift velocity. The distributions of plasma and the potential structure around the cylinder for several relative orientations between V sub 0 and B are presented along with the comparisons of current with and without the magnetic field. Simulations with the magnetic field in the simulation plane show that the potential structures around the cylinder are two-dimensional double layers with dimension (L) perpendicular to B much smaller than the dimension (L) parallel to B. In fact, L perpendicular is found to be approximately determined by the current limiting radius given by the Parker-Murphy model. However, it is found that the collected currents in the simulations are generally higher than those given by this model.

Singh, Nagendra↗