Eclipse and noneclipse differential photoelectron flux.

Abstract

Differential photoelectron flux in the energy range of 3 to 50 eV has been measured in the lower ionosphere both during the March 7, 1970, solar eclipse and during a period 24 hours earlier. The two measurements were made with identical retarding potential analyzers carried on Nike-Apache rocket flights to a peak altitude of approximately 180 km. The differential electron flux spectrum within totality on the eclipse flight had the same shape but was a factor of 10 smaller in magnitude than that measured on the control day at altitudes between 120 and 180 km, an expected result for an eclipse function decreasing to 1/10 at totality. The differential flux spectrum measured in full sun has the same general energy dependence as that reported by Doering et al. (1970) but is larger by a factor of 2 to 10, depending on altitude.