Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Klumpar, D. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Klumpar, D. M..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Ion composition measurements within magnetospheric flux transfer events

Magnetic field signatures from the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft are used to identify two magnetospheric FTEs (flux transfer events). Electron distributions measured in the plane of the magnetopause inside these FTEs complement previously reported electron measurements. Ion composition measurements in the energy range 0 to 20 keV/e within an FTE are reported. It is found that the ion distributions, the ion composition, and the flow velocities are unique to the FTE and unlike either the adjacent magnetosphere, the nearby boundary layer, or the nearby magnetosheath. The H(+), He(+), and He(2+) distribution functions in the FTEs have reversed temperature anisotropies and the relative He(2+) abundance is depressed with respect to either the magnetosheath or the low latitude boundary layer.

Klumpar, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Earth's external magnetic fields at low orbital altitudes

Under our Jun. 1987 proposal, Magnetic Signatures of Near-Earth Distributed Currents, we proposed to render operational a modeling procedure that had been previously developed to compute the magnetic effects of distributed currents flowing in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. After adaptation of the software to our computing environment we would apply the model to low altitude satellite orbits and would utilize the MAGSAT data suite to guide the analysis. During the first year, basic computer codes to run model systems of Birkeland and ionospheric currents and several graphical output routines were made operational on a VAX 780 in our research facility. Software performance was evaluated using an input matchstick ionospheric current array, field aligned currents were calculated and magnetic perturbations along hypothetical satellite orbits were calculated. The basic operation of the model was verified. Software routines to analyze and display MAGSAT satellite data in terms of deviations with respect to the earth's internal field were also made operational during the first year effort. The complete set of MAGSAT data to be used for evaluation of the models was received at the end of the first year. A detailed annual report in May 1989 described these first year activities completely. That first annual report is included by reference in this final report. This document summarizes our additional activities during the second year of effort and describes the modeling software, its operation, and includes as an attachment the deliverable computer software specified under the contract.

Klumpar, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Near equatorial signatures of dynamic auroral processes

Low energy electrons detected in the midmagnetosphere near the geomagnetic equator are hypothesized to originate from the auroral region near the ionospheric ends of the flux tubes. Electrons between 0.1 and 25 eV having pitch angle distributions peaked within 5 deg of B are routinely observed with electron spectrometers on the AMPTE/CCE satellite at radial distances of 7 R(e) to apogee at 9 R(e). If of auroral origin, as suggested, the detection of such fluxes provides important information about the auroral acceleration process, its dynamics, and about the effects of pitch angle scattering mechanisms in the magnetosphere.

Klumpar, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Direct injection of ionospheric O(+) into the dayside low latitude boundary layer

Observations from the AMPTE/Charge Composition Explorer (AMPTE/CCE) indicate the presence of two distinct O(+) populations in the dayside subsolar low latitude boundary layer during some periods of northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). The first population is O(+) convected into the boundary layer from the outer magnetosphere and has been reported previously. It is suggested here that the new, second, O(+) population is injected into the dayside boundary layer directly from the high latitude ionosphere. This second population can have a significant density and distinct characteristics such as field-aligned flow relative to boundary layer H(+) that modify both the plasma composition and dynamics in the low latitude boundary layer.

Fuselier, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Entry and acceleration of He(+) in the low latitude boundary layer

AMPTE/CCE He(+) and H(+) observations in the magnetosphere, low latitude boundary layer, and magnetosheath reveal that cold plasmaspheric He(+) distributions from the outer magnetosphere convect into the low latitude boundary layer. In the boundary layer, the cold He(+) is accelerated and heated to a few keV. The data are resolved in sufficient detail to show that the process of pickup of the cold He(+) distribution in the boundary layer H(+) flow may not be adequate to explain the observed He(+) distributions in the boundary layer.

Fuselier, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

High-speed flows of H(+) and He(2+) ions at the magnetosphere

Observations of high-speed flows of H(+) and He(2+) ions obtained by the hot plasma composition experiment on AMPTE/CCE provide direct support for the single-particle approach to acceleration in current layers. These high-speed flows are attributed to single-fluid momentum balance across a magnetopause with a normal magnetic field and a tangential electric field. The flow speeds of the two ion species are found to be approximately equal.

Paschmann, G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

AMPTE CCE plasma wave measurements during magnetospheric compressions

This paper summarizes plasma wave observations for the AMPTE Charge Composition Explorer bow-shock crossings of November 1, 1984, and February 8, 1986, and investigates the details of the 1984 interval during which multiple periodic shock crossings were observed. For this case, it is demonstrated that the characteristic features observed in the wave measurements provide unique signatures for the magnetosheath, bow shock, and foreshock. It was found that multiple quasi-periodic bow shock crossings detected near 0900 UT, November 1, 1984, were associated with wavelike motion of the shock surface, rather than with the structure of the shock itself.

Strangeway, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

AMPTE/CCE observations of shell-like He(2+) and O(6+) distributions in the magnetosheath

Simultaneous observations of solar wind He(2+) and O(6+) shell-like distributions in the magnetosheath were obtained by the AMPTE CCE on November 1, 1984. It is found that the present distributions are centered on the downstream H(+) bulk velocity and have radii proportional to the mass/charge ratio. The results support an electrostatic cross-shock potential model.

Fuselier, S. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Observations of intense ULF pulsation activity near the geomagnetic equator during quiet times

This paper analyzes observations, made by particle and field instruments on the AMPTE CCE satellite, of intense ULF pulsations in the earth's magnetosphere near the geomagnetic equator. These pulsations were observed during magnetically quiet periods in regions characterized by intense fluxes of warm strongly trapped light ions, predominantly H(+), and often with streaming low-energy plasma. The strong latitudinal localization of these pulsations is interpreted to be due to equatorial mass loading or to partial reflection of Alfven wave energy by latitudinal gradients in plasma density. Possible sources of wave energy for these events are discussed.

Engebretson, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Counter-streaming electrons at the geomagnetic equator near 9 earth radii

AMPTE/CEE observations are used to study short-lived, highly anisotropic electron distributions in the region of the equatorial magnetosphere bewtween 6.6 earth radii and the CCE apogee at 8.8 earth radii. Intense bursts of highly collimated counterstreaming electrons were observed at keV energies with durations of a few tens of seconds to a few minutes near the geomagnetic equator on L-shells that intersect the high-latitude ionosphere in the region normally associated with the auroral zone. It is found that the counterstreaming electrons at energies below the peak energy are accompanied by simultaneous deep depressions of the locally mirroring fluxes. It is suggested that these equatorial electrons may result from the release of auroral electrons trapped beneath the auroral accelerating potentials at lower altitudes along the same magnetic flux tubes.

Klumpar, D. 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 NTRS1987

Yosemite Conference on Ionospheric Plasma in the Magnetosphere: Sources, Mechanisms and Consequences, meeting report

The sixth biennial Yosemite topical conference and the first as a Chapman Conference was held on February 3 to 6, 1986. Due to the recent changes in our perception of the dynamics of the ionospheric/magnetospheric system, it was deemed timely to bring researchers together to discuss and contrast the relative importance of solar versus terrestrial sources of magnetospheric plasma. Although the solar wind was once thought to dominate the supply of plasma in the Earth's magnetosphere, it is now thought that the Earth's ionosphere is a significant contributor. Polar wind and other large volume outflows of plasma have been seen at relatively high altitudes over the polar cap and are now being correlated with outflows found in the magnetotail. The auroral ion fountain and cleft ion fountain are examples of ionospheric sources of plasma in the magnetosphere, observed by the Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE 1) spacecraft. The conference was organized into six sessions: four consisting of prepared oral presentations, one poster session, and one session for open forum discussion. The first three oral sessions dealt separately with the three major topics of the conference, i.e., the sources, mechanisms, and consequences of ionospheric plasma in the magnetosphere. A special session of invited oral presentations was held to discuss extraterrestrial ionospheric/magnetospheric plasma processes. The poster session was extended over two evenings during which presenters discussed their papers on a one-on-one basis. The last session of the conferences was reserved for open discussions of those topics or ideas considered most interesting or controversial.

Gallagher, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

AMPTE/CCE observations of the plasma composition below 17 keV during the September 4, 1984 magnetic storm

Observations from the Hot Plasma Composition Experiment on the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft during the magnetic storm of 4-5 September 1984 reveal that significant injection of ions of terrestrial origin accompanied the storm development. The compression of the magnetosphere at storm sudden commencement carried the magnetopause inside the CCE orbit clearly revealing the shocked solar wind plasma. A build up of suprathermal ions is observed near the plasmapause during the storm main phase and recovery phase. Pitch angle distributions in the ring current during the main phase show differences between H(+) and O(+) that suggest mass dependent injection, transport and/or loss processes.

Shelley, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Direct evidence for two-stage (bimodal) acceleration of ionospheric ions

Energetic ion composition spectrometer data gathered on hybrid conical ion distributions by the Dynamics Explorer 1 in the topside ionosphere are reported. The observed ion distributions were field-aligned and upward flowing, with energies up to 5 keV. Increases in ion energy were accompanied by a departure from field-alignment and a cone patterned upward flow, with the apex in the auroral field lines and the cone angle widening upward as the energy increased. Both transverse and parallel accelerations were imparted to the ions, with the transverse heating occurring in a 5000 km extent region centered at 18,000 km altitude. A bi-Maxwellian distribution, a temperature of 1.2 keV and a 260 eV parallel temperature were found at the top of the region.

Klumpar, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Characteristics of optical emissions and particle precipitation in polar cap arcs

Auroral emission features at high geomagnetic latitudes are identified and characterized using simultaneous optical and particle data from the ISIS-2 satellite. Polar cap arcs are identified from two-dimensional geomagnetic transforms of the optical data along with precipitating electron data for the time at which the satellite is on the field line intersecting the arc. No precipitating protons were detected for any of the arc crossings. The precipitations particle characteristics include: (1) an electron energy spectrum with a peak in the range 350-750 eV superposed on a soft spectrum like that observed in polar rain; (2) a normally isotropic pitch angle dependence, with the exception that field-aligned fluxes are observed in association with an inverted 'v' event; and (3) an energy flux range of approximately 0.8-3 erg/(sq cm s). A possible explanation of the observed precipitating particle characteristics is that parallel electric fields are accelerating polar rain type spectra at an altitude of several thousand km.

Murphree, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Investigation of the effects of external current systems on the MAGSAT data utilizing grid cell modeling techniques

The feasibility of modeling magnetic fields due to certain electrical currents flowing in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere was investigated. A method was devised to carry out forward modeling of the magnetic perturbations that arise from space currents. The procedure utilizes a linear current element representation of the distributed electrical currents. The finite thickness elements are combined into loops which are in turn combined into cells having their base in the ionosphere. In addition to the extensive field modeling, additional software was developed for the reduction and analysis of the MAGSAT data in terms of the external current effects. Direct comparisons between the models and the MAGSAT data are possible.

Klumpar, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Electrons in the ionospheric source cone - Evidence for runaway electrons as carriers of downward Birkeland currents

Extremely intense field-aligned fluxes of low energy electrons have been observed with ISIS-2 streaming out of the ionosphere at auroral latitudes. Fluxes in excess of 10 billion per sq cm sec ster at energies below 500 eV with peak fluxes from 10 to 100 eV were detected at 1400 km. The electrons are very strongly field-aligned, having pitch angles confined within 10 deg of the magnetic field. Since they are so intense and so highly collimated they cannot be produced by atmospheric backscattering of a primary auroral beam. These electrons are sometimes associated with ionospheric ions that have been accelerated transverse to the magnetic field. They occur in regions of downward field-aligned current, and may thus be carriers of the current, thus far unidentified. It is suggested that they are runaway electrons from the ionosphere produced by a downward field-aligned component of the electric field.

Klumpar, D. M.↗