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At least 1,549 records · Page 86

Plasma and magnetic field characteristics of magnetic flux transfer events

Plasma and magnetic field data from ISEE 1 and 2 are examined for 5 passes of the magnetopause region at 20 and 40 deg northern latitudes, and are presented in terms of moments of the distribution function, calculated from two-dimensional or three-dimensional data. Flux transfer events are characterized by a mixture of magnetosheath and magnetospheric particles, which supports the hypothesis that flux transfer events represent encounters of reconnected flux tubes. An excess pressure appears to be balanced by the tension of the ambient magnetic field lines as they are draped around the reconnected flux tube, and the different observed magnetic field signatures are consistent with expectations for encounters of the flux tubes at different relative locations. It is suggested that increased flow speeds are caused by continued reconnection at the low-latitude boundaries of the flux tubes.

Paschmann, G.↗

Energetic protons, alpha particles, and electrons in magnetic flux transfer events

Energetic proton, alpha particle, and electron data are presented for two magnetopause crossings, which show magnetic field signatures characteristic of flux transfer events (FTEs). Energetic proton and alpha particles are observed streaming along the magnetic field within the magnetosheath in all events showing magnetic signatures characteristic of the FTEs. Flux ratios as high as about 180 parallel and antiparallel to the magnetic field are observed, which means that ions of about 30 keV per charge are at times streaming almost scatter-free from the magnetopause into the magnetosheath. Energetic ion bursts with signatures equal to those observed in FTEs are reduced by more than an order of magnitude as compared to the trapped particle flux.

Scholer, M.↗

Measurements of low energy electrons and ions during long-lived solar particle events

The stream of ions and electrons which appeared in planetary space for about eight days after an April 1979 solar flare exhibited a classic energetic storm particle (ESP) event ion pattern. Distinct populations of these electrons can be identified in association with IMF filaments, and the electron energy spectrum is well fit by a power law exponent of -2.7 during most of the event. The pitch angle distributions of the low energy electrons are found to be complex and to undergo many changes, with weak pitch angle scattering and adiabatic effects playing a role in the shaping of these distributions.

Anderson, K. A.↗

Evidence for inhomogeneous thermal sources of two similar solar spike event of 1978, May 5 and December 4

Two short duration single spike events of 1978 May 5 and December 4 exhibit similar time profiles in the microwave and hard X-ray ranges, indicating emission from compact sources. Microwave spectral observations exhibit inhomogeneities present in the source parameters. The existence of fine time structures in the microwave time profiles at 10.4 GHz from Berne are interpreted as a signature of the dynamics of a disturbance travelling through the souce at the ion-sound speed. Stereoscopic observations with the hard X-ray detector on the solar orbiter, Helios-2, and the Berne microwave antennae do not indicate any time lag or differences in the time profiles during the impulsive phase. This is taken as evidence for the absence of directionality of emission making beam models unlikely for short duration single spike events.

Wiehl, H. J.↗

The hard X-ray burst spectrometer event listing 1980, 1981 and 1982

A comprehensive reference for the hard X-ray bursts detected with the Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission for the time of launch on February 14, 1980 to March 1983 is provided. Over 6300 X-ray events were detected in the energy range from 30 to approx 500 keV with the vast majority being solar flares. The listing includes the start time, peak time, duration and peak rate of each event.

Dennis, B. R.↗

Single event upset sensitivity of low power Schottky devices

Data taken from tests involving heavy ions in the Berkeley 88 in. cyclotron being directed at low power Schottky barrier devices are reported. The tests also included trials in the Harvard cyclotron with 130 MeV protons, and at the U.C. Davis cyclotron using 56 MeV protons. The experiments were performed to study the single event upsets in MSI logic devices containing flip-flops. Results are presented of single-event upsets (SEU) causing functional degradation observed in post-exposure tests of six different devices. The effectiveness of the particles in producing SEUs in logic device functioning was found to be directly proportional to the proton energy. Shielding was determined to offer negligible protection from the particle bombardment. The results are considered significant for the design and fabrication of LS devices for space applications.

Price, W. E.↗

Mass composition of substorm-related energetic ion dispersion events

The mass dependent characteristics in two ion dispersion events is studied using data obtained by an ion mass spectrometer flown onboard the SCATHA (P78-2) spacecraft. It is found that the dispersion events are associated with substorm activity and that the dispersing ions originated in the dusk-midnight sector near the time of substorm onset. The question of the source of the dispersing plasma is examined since the mass spectrometer can discriminate between protons and oxygen. It is shown that a local injection of ionosphere plasma near the time of substorm onset can explain some of the signatures in the energetic ion spectra for different masses.

Strangeway, R. J.↗

Diagnostic analysis and spectral energetics of a blocking event in the GLAS climate model simulation

A synoptic and spectral analysis of a blocking event is presented, with attention given to the temporal evolution, maintenance, and decay of the block. The GLAS numerical climate model was used to generate a blocking event by the introduction of SST anomalies. Wavenumbers 2 and 3 became stationary around their climatological locations, and their constructive interference produced persistent blocking ridges over the west coast of North America and the other over western Europe. Time variations of the kinetic and potential energies and energy conversions during the blocking were performed. Spectrally filtered Hovmoller diagrams were developed for the winter of 1976-77, and showed that long waves were stationary over most of the interval, which featured severe weather conditions.

Chen, T.-C.↗

Evidence for inhomogeneous thermal sources of two similar solar spike events of 1978 May 5 and December 4

Two short duration single spike solar events of 1978 May 5 and December 4 exhibit similar time profiles in the microwave and hard X-ray ranges, indicating emission from compact sources. Microwave spectral observations exhibit inhomogeneities present in the source parameters. The existence of fine time structures in the microwave time profiles at 10.4 GHz from Berne are interpreted as a signature of the dynamics of a disturbance traveling through the source at the ion-sound speed. Stereoscopic observations with the hard X-ray detector on the solar orbiter, Helios-2, and the Berne microwave antenna do not indicate any time lag or differences in the time profiles during the impulsive phase. This is taken as evidence for the absence of directionality of emission making beam models unlikely for short duration single spike events. Previously announced in STAR as N83-13047

Desai, U.↗

The physics of a single-event upset in integrated circuits: A review and critique of analytical models for charge collection

When an energetic particle (kinetic energy 0.5 MeV) originating from a radioactive decay or a cosmic ray transverse the active regions of semiconductor devices used in integrated circuit (IC) chips, it leaves along its track a high density electron hole plasma. The subsequent decay of this plasma by drift and diffusion leads to charge collection at the electrodes large enough in most cases to engender a false reading, hence the name single-event upset (SEU). The problem of SEU's is particularly severe within the harsh environment of Jupiter's radiation belts and constitutes therefore a matter of concern for the Galileo mission. The physics of an SEU event is analyzed in some detail. Owing to the predominance of nonlinear space charge effects and the fact that positive (holes) and negative (electrons) charges must be treated on an equal footing, analytical models for the ionized-charge collection and their corresponding currents as a function of time prove to be inadequate even in the simplest case of uniformly doped, abrupt p-n junctions in a one-dimensional geometry. The necessity for full-fledged computer simulation of the pertinent equations governing the electron-hole plasma therefore becomes imperative.

Vonroos, O.↗

Hydromagnetic vortices. I - The 11 December 1977 event

Through a synthesis of magnetometer, plasma, energetic particle and electric field data from the ISEE satellite pair, the characteristics of the initial (11 December 1977) magnetotail plasma vortex event reported by Hones et al. (1978), are described. The event is associated with a hot (beta is approximately unity) compressional hydromagnetic wave and apparent vortical motion is seen because at two points in the flow cycle the flow is field-aligned. The behavior of the energetic ions receives special study: when combined with the thermal flow measurements energy dispersion is evident in the field-aligned flow, while the large pitch angle energetic ions reveal the presence of gradients. It is argued that these gradients are wave-induced, and the data are used to determine the perpendicular wave wavelength together with the speed and direction of transverse wave propagation.

Saunders, M. A.↗

Hydromagnetic vortices. II - Further dawnside events

It is shown that the 11 December 1977 plasma vortex event the subject of a multi-instrument investigation (Saunders et al., 1983) - was neither atypical nor uncommon, by describing the magnetic and plasma characteristics of three further vortices recorded within 3 weeks of, and at similar locations to, the 11 December study. One of the new events has added interest since magnetic pulsations were seen simultaneously on the ground in the vicinity of the satellite magnetic 'footprint'.

Saunders, M. A.↗

Correlation between the He/H ratios in upstream particle events and in the solar wind

The ratio of helium to proton differential intensities at a fixed energy per charge in the diffuse ion population during long-lived upstream particle events is compared with the simultaneously measured solar wind He/H ratio. It is found that the He/H intensity ratio at about 30 keV in upstream events is highly correlated with and on the average directly proportional to the He/H ratio in the solar wind, and larger than the He/H ratio in the solar wind by an average factor of 1.6. It is concluded that the solar wind is the parent population for the diffuse ions. The He abundance in the diffuse component is on average observed to be larger than in the solar wind. The observations are consistent with the predictions of Fermi acceleration models for a seed particle population drawn from the solar wind with little compositional bias and moderately enhanced in He during the acceleration process.

Ipavich, F. M.↗

Solar wind ionization temperatures inferred from the charge state composition of diffuse particle events

Detailed measurements of the charge state composition of energetic heavy ions in the diffuse component are presented for the first time. Spectral characteristics and charge state measurements for 12 diffuse ion events observed upstream of the earth's bow shock are reported. One event is analyzed in order to illustrate the basic assumptions and general techniques involved in the determination of charge state composition from the data. The probable solar wind origin of the seed population of the diffuse component is used together with the charge state composition of these heavy ions to estimate the charge state composition in the concurrent solar wind, and hence to infer the equilibrium coronal temperatures associated with a variety of solar wind flows. The results are compared with predicted solar wind values.

Galvin, A. B.↗

Temporal variations of nucleonic abundances in solar flare energetic particle events. II - Evidence for large-scale shock acceleration

A survey of the roughly 1 MeV per nucleon ion abundance over the range H-Fe measured with 3 hr time resolution during large solar particle events from November 1973 through December 1977, under near solar minimum conditions, is presented. For all the monitored species, a strong decrease in average flux level occurred with increase of the optical flare site distance from the W 60 deg connection point. The 3 hr abundance ratios He/H, O/He, and Fe/He were observed to fluctuate by a factor of about two about their average values for given flare events, and the size of these fluctuations was independent of the distance to the optical flare site. The monitored abundance ratios exhibited no dependence on distance to the optical flare site. The physical mechanism suggested to explain these observations is large-scale shock acceleration from a shock wave originating at the flare site and propagating as far away as 100 deg heliolongitude.

Mason, G. M.↗

The distribution of reconnection geometry in flux transfer events using energetic ion, plasma and magnetic data

The distribution of energetic ion anisotropies in flux transfer events (FTEs) about the dayside magnetopause has been determined for ISEE 2 crossings of the boundary in 1977 and 1978. When the events are sorted according to the sign of the east-west component of the magnetic field in the magnetosphere, a clear correlation is observed on the northern morningside. When the field is eastward, particles flow antiparallel to the field, implying field line connection to the Northern Hemisphere; when the field is westward, the opposite is true. On the afternoonside, the particle anisotropies are correlated with latitude. Explanations for this pattern are discussed which involve FTE formation at low latitudes with subsequent motion at a velocity given by the vector superposition of the Alfven velocity from the release of magnetic tension and the magnetosheath bulk flow velocity. Evidence that the geomagnetic and not the geocentric solar magnetospheric equator is the source of FTEs is considered.

Daly, P. W.↗

Type II bursts, shock waves, and coronal transients - The event of 1980 June 29, 0233 UT

The metric Type-II solar burst event of June 29, 1980, is characterized on the basis of spatially resolved radioheliograph observations obtained at Culgoora, Australia, and visible-light observations obtained with the coronograph/polarimeter of the SMM satellite. The data are presented in images, diagrams, and graphs and discussed in detail. The Type-II emission is found to arise in the dense moving material behind the transient loops, which have sky-plane width 0.5 solar radius and line-of-sight depth 0.1-0.4 solar radius. A faint arc observed moving ahead of the transient loops at about 900 km/sec and not associated with the Type-II burst is attributed to a shock front, and the compression ratio and Alfven Mach number of the enhanced-density region are estimated as n2/n1 = 1.3-3 and M(A) = 1.2-3. The ambient material at 3 solar radii is determined to have Alfven speed 250-625 km/sec and magnetic-field strength 50-120 mG. The total mass of the event is calculated as 700 Tg; the total magnetic energy of the loops is (1.5-15) x 10 to the 29th ergs.

Gary, D. E.↗

Flux transfer events on the magnetopause - Spatial distribution and controlling factors

The spatial distribution of flux transfer events (FTE) of magnetic flux tubes pulled from the earth's magnetopause is analyzed using ISEE 1 and 2 data from 1977-82. Attention is given to interplanetary conditions influencing different observed FTE polarities. FTEs were observed on nearly 25 percent of the passes near the dayside magnetopause. Direct FTEs were located mainly in the northern dawn sector and reverse FTEs appeared in the southern dusk sector. The distribution indicated an origin in the equatorial sector, and data correlate the appearance of FTEs only when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) had southward or nearly horizontal orientation. The presence of a southward component in the IMF was coincident with the appearance of an FTE 45 percent of the events. E-W components in the IMF exhibited no connections with the occurrence of an FTE.

Berchem, J.↗