Engineering topics

Erlandson, R. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Erlandson, R. E..

16 records

NASA NTRS1993

Simultaneous observations of subauroral electron temperature enhancements and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves

Observational results from an investigation of LF (0.5-4.0 Hz) electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves and subauroral electron temperature enhancements recorded from the DE-2 satellite are presented. Four different wave events were analyzed, all recorded at magnetic latitudes from 57-60 deg, magnetic local times from 8-14 hr, and altitudes from 600-900 km. The peak wave amplitudes during the events ranged from 8-70 nT and 5-30 mV/m in the magnetic and electric field, respectively. Te enhancements at the time of the waves were observed in three of four events. A linear relationship between the wave magnetic field spectral density and Te enhancements was found for these events. The Te enhancements were also correlated with an enhanced flux of low energy electrons. During one event (82104) an enhanced flux of electrons were observed at energies up to 50 eV and at nearly all pitch angles, although the flux was largest in the precipitating and upflowing directions. It is suggested that the waves are responsible for heating the low energy electrons which precipitate to the ionosphere and produce the observed Te enhancements. The upflowing electron population appears to be heated at ionospheric altitudes, below the DE-2 satellite.

Erlandson, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The dynamic cusp

Results of a study of satellite and ground-based data acquired near the dayside cusp during a period when the IMF was inferred to have a strong northward component are presented. The presence of Pc 1 bursts, Pc 4-5 pulsations, and a tailward traveling twin vortex pattern of ionospheric convection suggests that the magnetosphere may have been temporarily compressed. Magnetic field data acquired at a synchronous altitude from GOES 5 and on the ground from Huanacayo support this suggestion. Plasma with ion dispersion characteristics associated with a cusp during southward IMF was detected by Viking over a 3.5-deg range of latitude. The presence of standing Alfven waves and ring current ions suggests that this 'cusplike' plasma was observed on closed geomagnetic field lines. It is suggested that the magnetosphere, during a northward IMF, is temporarily compressed by a solar wind pressure enhancement that produces the Pc 1 bursts, Pc 4-5 pulsations, and ionospheric vortices.

Potemra, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A statistical study of Pc 1-2 magnetic pulsations in the equatorial magnetosphere. I - Equatorial occurrence distributions. II - Wave properties

AMPTE CCE magnetic field data from a period spanning a complete local time revolution of the satellite orbit major axis are used to examine the occurrence distribution of transverse narrowband Pc 1-2 emissions in the equatorial magnetosphere from L = 3.5 to L = 9 at all local times. Three examples are presented to illustrate the properties of events occurring at dawn, noon, and dusk. The early afternoon outer magnetosphere is found to be the dominant site for electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave occurrence. Pc 1-2 exhibited a radial structure with a gap between high- and low-L events. The example intervals indicate that a significant local time variation of wave properties may exist. Distributions are presented of narrowband Pc 1-2 frequency, ellipticity, normalized frequency and spectral power vs local time, L, and magnetic latitude, using the data base of more than 9000 events obtained from AMPTE CCE magnetometer data. Events occurring in the region 0300-0900 MLT, L greater than 7 are distinctly different from the remainder of Pc 1-2. The unique features of this population are linear polarization at all latitudes and high normalized frequency, 0.4 to 0.5 on average.

Anderson, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Pc1 pulsations observed by AMPTE/CCE in the earth's outer magnetosphere

Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves in the Pc1-2 frequency range (0.1-5 Hz) have been observed in earth's equatorial magnetosphere over the range L = 3 to 9 by the AMPTE/CCE magnetic-field experiment. Detailed analysis of data from two orbits together with preliminary occurrence statistics from 31 days are reported. One example occurred during disturbed geomagnetic conditions (maximum AE greater than 1000 nT) and exhibited intense Pc1 from L = 5 to the magnetopause (L = about 7.5). The second example occurred during moderate to quiet conditions (average AE = about 300 nT) and displayed Pc1 in two distinct L ranges: low (L = about 4) and high (L greater than 7.5). Statistical results show that Pc1 are about 4 times more common for L greater than 7 than for L less than 6 and occur primarily in the afternoon. The discovery of a statistically dominant outer-magnetospheric source region implies that ring-current interaction with the plasmasphere is not the primary source of Pc1 excitation, but suggests that plasma sheet ions may be a significant energy source for Pc1. This result is consistent with the strong dependence of the linear convective growth rate on magnetic-field strength.

Anderson, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Observations of the plasma environment during an active ionospheric ion beam injection experiment

Several sounding rocket flights have been used to clarify the electrodynamics of neutral beam releases of Ar ions in the upper ionosphere, by varying the Ar's point of release with respect to the diagnostic payload. A volume of 10-m radius centered on the Ar release payload is measured for broadband wave activity; the superthermal neutralizing beam electrons become magnetized in this volume for across-field plasma releases, and ambient electrons are accelerated to energies of several hundred eV. This is speculated to be due to wave turbulence rather than payload-neutralization.

Arnoldy, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1989

ARCS 3 ionospheric artificial argon ion beam injections - Waves near the heavy ion gyrofrequencies

Low-frequency electric field data below the proton gyrofrequency are presented for the duration of the argon ion beam experiment conducted as part of the Argon Release for Controlled Studies (ARCS) program. An argon ion beam was injected from the subpayload antiparallel or perpendicular to the magnetic field at altitudes from 250 to 405 km. During the injections, the wave spectra were broadband near the subpayload and narrow-band near heavy ion gyrofrequencies at perpendicular separation distances between 42 and 254 m. It is suggested that the narrow-band waves are associated with both the perpendicular argon ion beam and an unexpected flux of low-energy ions which peaked in energy near 15 eV and pitch angle near 90 deg with respect to the magnetic field.

Erlandson, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Observations of the plasma environment during an active ionospheric ion beam

This paper presents detailed data on positive ion flux observations acquired during an active rocket-borne ion beam injection experiment, using the hemispheric electrostatic energy and pitch angle spectrometer (HEEPS) which was separated from the beam-emitting payload by distances along and across geomagnetic field lines which varied systematically during the experiment. The data obtained by the HEEPS illustrate a number of outstanding features of the ion flux environment near the HEEPS instrument during beam operations, some of which are not understood. It is shown that particle, field, and photometric data support a picture of particularly intense beam-plasma interactions in the immediate vicinity of the beam-emitting payload.

Pollock, C. J.↗

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 NTRS1988

Satellite observations of current and waves in space plasmas

Plasma processes occurring in the magnetosphere are examined in the light of recent observations of currents and waves with satellite-born magnetic experiments. In particular, results from the Viking and AMPTE/CCE satellites indicate that geomagnetic field lines that guide stationary Birkland currents can also support resonant Alfven waves. The relationship of these waves to the current systems and their source in the magnetosphere is still under investigation. It is emphasized that Birkland currents and Alfven waves are fundamental to an understanding of the earth's plasma environment.

Potemra, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Resonant geomagnetic field oscillations and Birkeland currents in the morning sector

The relationship between large-scale Birkeland currents and resonant oscillations of the geomagnetic field is investigated on the basis of Viking magnetic-field, electric-field, and particle measurements and AMPTE-CEE and IMP-8 magnetic-field measurements obtained during April 23-25, 1986. The data are presented in extensive graphs and characterized in detail. The 3-16-mHz 5-60-nT magnetic-field oscillations detected by Viking are also seen by AMPTE-CEE below L = 8.8 and extend from the lower L shells to the boundary between regions 1 and 2 of the Birkeland-current system, and this boundary is shown to be closely related to the interface between the low-latitude boundary layer and the central plasma sheet. It is suggested that the magnetospheric oscillations may be driven by several different solar-wind features, possibly depending on the direction of the IMF.

Potemra, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

First Viking results - Magnetic field measurements

The magnetic field experiment on the Swedish Viking satellite consists of a triaxial fluxgate magnetometer system with the sensors mounted on a 2-m boom. Transverse magnetic field perturbations are readily observed which identify the large-scale auroral and cusp-region Birkeland current (BC) systems. A sharp gradient was observed in the dayside region near apogee and 08:40 MLT during a pass on March 25, 1986 which has been interpreted as an earthward-flowing BC of 8 micro-A/sq m. When projected to ionospheric altitudes it is estimated that the current density is 200 micro-A/sq m.

Potemra, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Ion beam releases at rocket altitudes

NASA Flight 29.015 was the third in a series of flights to study the electrodynamics of man-produced ion beams in the ionosphere. Much like an earlier flight (Moore at al., 1982 and 1983; Kaufman et al., 1985), plasma releases perpendicular to the earth's B field result in ions being measured, often at reduced energies, several hundred meters from the source along the magnetic field. Releases at 200-eV energy parallel to B, however, result in over-200-eV ions measured above the source. In addition, parallel ion releases result in two additional populations of ions seen near 90-deg pitch angle; one near the energy of the generator, and the other at considerably lower energy. The energization of parallel ions could result from the same process by which electrons were accelerated to the generator payload as measured on an earlier flight, presumably due to blockage of natural field-aligned currents by gun-related wave turbulence. This turbulence is also undoubtedly inherent in the mechanism by which a parallel beam of ions creates a perpendicular component.

Pollock, C. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Initial results from the operation of two argon ion generators in the auroral ionosphere

Two argon ion generators have been lofted by sounding rockets in order to investigate ion beam dynamics and beam effects on the ionosphere, and auroral electrodynamics during rocket passage over auroral arcs. The ion generators were on a subpayload that was separated from the main payload early in the flight. The main payload conducted the diagnostic measurements during ion beam operations. Evidence of heating of the ionosphere around the subpayload during each ion beam emission is noted.

Erlandson, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Observations of large-scale Birkeland currents with Viking

Data from the Viking Magnetic Field Experiment and Hot Plasma Experiment acquired on March 25, 1986 are analyzed. The large-scale region 1 and region 2 Birkeland current systems (with densities of about 0.1 microA/sq m) were readily identified in the morning sector at altitudes of 12,500 to 13,000 km. Embedded in the large-scale region 1 system are small-scale intense currents that are not necessarily aligned in the east-west geomagnetic direction. The major carriers of the large-scale region 1 Birkeland currents appear to be upward-flowing electrons with energies below 10 eV. Embedded within this flux can be spatially limited regions of 'hotter' electron fluxes that carry small-scale currents. The correlation of magnetic and particle observations obtained here supports previous suggestions that the region 1 currents in the morning sector have their source in the boundary layer and that the region 2 currents are associated with the plasma sheet.

Potemra, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Geomagnetic field-line resonant harmonics measured by the Viking and AMPTE/CCE magnetic field experiments

The first simultaneous observations of multiple harmonic, azimuthally polarized, ULF pulsations at two points along a geomagnetic flux tube in space are reported. In March 1986, the elliptically orbiting equatorial AMPTE/CCE satellite was oriented with the apogee near 0830 h MLT, and the orbital plane of the polar-orbiting Viking satellite was at 1000 MLT. The satellites were situated within approximately the same flux tube but with an effective separation of approximately 10 R(e) near L = 8 on the inbound pass of the AMPTE/CCE orbit. Structured harmonic pulsations were observed by the magnetic field experiments on both spacecraft, and they appeared to turn off and on simultaneously at both locations. Both the observations and the relative amplitudes along the magnetic field lines support recent ideas of multiple field-line resonances of Alfven waves.

Zanetti, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Argon ions injected parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field

Preliminary results are reported of measurements obtained with the 0-10-kHz electric-field plasma-wave receivers and single-particle ion detectors of the ARCS-3 sounding-rocket payload over the auroral oval on February 10, 1985, after downward/field-parallel or transverse-spiral injection of Ar ions from the accelerator subpayload (separating itself at 2.3 m/s). The data are presented graphically and briefly characterized. The waves induced by the parallel injections are found to be much weaker than those induced by the perpendicular injections. In addition to the expected response to the Ar beam, an ion flux at pitch angle 90 deg was detected during the second parallel injection.

Erlandson, R. E.↗