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At least 271 records · Page 15

Dispersed ion structures at the poleward edge of the auroral oval: Low-altitude observations and numerical modeling

We have compared the AUREOL 3 (A3) observations of auroral ion precipitation, particularly ion beams, with the results from the global kinetic model of magnetotail plasma of Ashour-Abdalla et al. (1993). We have identified 101 energetic keV H(+) velocity dispersed precipitating ion structures (VDIS) with fluxes above 10(exp -3) ergs./sq cm./s in the A3 record between the end of 1981 and mid-1984. These beams display a systematic increase in energy with increasing latitude and were observed in a narrow region within less than 1 deg in latitude of the polar cap boundary. The VDIS are the most distinctive feature in the auroral zone of the plasma sheet boundary layer. We report first on a statistical analysis of the possible ralationships between magnetic activity or substorm phase and the VDIS properties. Our particle simulations of the precipitating ions have been extended by using a series of modified versions of the Tsyganenko (1989) magnetic field model and by varying the cross-magnetosphere electric field. In the simulations, plasma from a mantle source is subject to strong nonlinear acceleration, forming beams which flow along the PSBL. Only 3 to 4% of these beams precipitate into the ionosphere to form the VDIS while the majority return to the equatorial plane after mirroring and form the thermalized central plasma sheet. The final energy and the dispersion of the beams in the model depend on the amplitude of the cross-tail electric field. Two unsual observations of low-energy (less than 5 keV) O(+) VDIS, shifted by 4 deg 5 deg in invariant latitude equatorward of H(+) VDIS are analyzed in detail. The sparsity of such O(+) events and the absence of the changes in the flux and frequency of occurrence indicate a solar wind origin for the plasma. Finally, large-scale kinetic modeling, even with its simplifications and assumptions (e.g., static magnetic field, solar wind source), reproduces low-altitude auroral ion features fairly well; it may therefore be presented as an appropriate framework into which data on energization and transport of the hot plasma, obtained in the equatorial plane, could be inserted in the near future.

Bosqued, J. M.↗

Charged-particle motion in multidimensional magnetic-field turbulence

We present a new analysis of the fundamental physics of charged-particle motion in a turbulent magnetic field using a numerical simulation. The magnetic field fluctuations are taken to be static and to have a power spectrum which is Kolmogorov. The charged particles are treated as test particles. It is shown that when the field turbulence is independent of one coordinate (i.e., k lies in a plane), the motion of these particles across the magnetic field is essentially zero, as required by theory. Consequently, the only motion across the average magnetic field direction that is allowed is that due to field-line random walk. On the other hand, when a fully three-dimensional realization of the turbulence is considered, the particles readily cross the field. Transport coefficients both along and across the ambient magnetic field are computed. This scheme provides a direct computation of the Fokker-Planck coefficients based on the motions of individual particles, and allows for comparison with analytic theory.

Giacalone, J.↗

A Study of Cross Polarization Effects in Reflector Antenna Arrays

This paper addresses the issue of cross-polarized field components of an array of antennas as compared to that of individual elements of the array. For a single antenna, the co- and cross-polarization components are completely correlated in terms of phase and amplitude in a given direction. The co/cross-pol relations vary as a function of angular position from peak of the beam, which is important when there is pointing error. More specifically, for the reflector antennas, this relation might vary as the antenna points in different directions in azimuth and elevation, due to the changes in gravity profile, wind effects, temperature changes, etc., on the surface and feed/sub/main reflector alignment. In an array environment, these changes will vary among various antennas in the array, and indeed very small mechanical and design variations in the antenna elements (in terms of feed horns, feed/reflector misalignments, surface variations, etc., will contribute to the cross polarization variations.

cross polarization↗

Photodissociation rates of OH, OD, and CN by the interstellar radiation field

The photoabsorption cross sections for OH, OD, and CN in the vacuum ultraviolet region are measured. The cross sections for the hydroxyl radicals are of the order of 10 to the -17th sq cm, but the photoabsorption for CN is so low that only an upper limit of 2 x 10 to the -18th sq cm is obtained. The molecular photodissociative processes are discussed. The photodissociation cross sections are inferred from the photoabsorption cross sections. On the basis of the measured data, the photodissociation rates by the interstellar radiation field are computed and discussed.

Nee, J. B.↗

Initial overview of disconnection events in Halley's Comet 1986

We present an initial overview of the disconnection events (DE's) in Comet Halley in 1986. Although disconnection events are arguably the most spectacular of all dynamic comet phenomena, the mechanisms by which they occur are not fully understood. It is generally believed that the solar wind plays a major role in determining when disconnection events occur, but the details of the solar wind/cometary interactions responsible for initiating the tail disconnection are still under debate. The three most widely accepted models are: (1) high speed streams in the solar wind cause the tail to disconnect due to pressure effects; (2) decreased production of cometary ions in a high speed stream allows magnetic field to slip away from the comet; and (3) the tail disconnects after frontside reconnection of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) as the comet crosses a magnetic field sector boundary. We find that the front-side magnetic reconnection model is the best explanation for the DE's we have considered.

Brandt, John C.↗

Geometrical optics design of a compact range Gregorian subreflector system by the principle of the central ray

In recent years, the compact range has become very popular for measuring Radar Cross Section (RCS) and antenna patterns. The compact range, in fact, offers several advantages due to reduced size, a controlled environment, and privacy. On the other hand, it has some problems of its own, which must be solved properly in order to achieve high quality measurement results. For example, diffraction from the edges of the main reflector corrupts the plane wave in the target zone and creates spurious scattering centers in RCS measurements. While diffraction can be minimized by using rolled edges, the field of an offset single reflector compact range is corrupted by three other errors: the taper of the reflected field, the cross polarization introduced by the tilt of the feed and the aperture blockage introduced by the feed itself. These three errors can be eliminated by the use of a subreflector system. A properly designed subreflector system offers very little aperture blockage, no cross-polarization introduced and a minimization of the taper of the reflected field. A Gregorian configuration has been adopted in order to enclose the feed and the ellipsoidal subreflector in a lower chamber, which is isolated by absorbers from the upper chamber, where the main parabolic reflector and the target zone are enclosed. The coupling between the two rooms is performed through a coupling aperture. The first cut design for such a subreflector system is performed through Geometrical Optics ray tracing techniques (GO), and is greatly simplified by the use of the concept of the central ray introduced by Dragone. The purpose of the GO design is to establish the basic dimensions of the main reflector and subreflector, the size of the primary and secondary illuminating surfaces, the tilt angles of the subreflector and feed, and estimate the feed beamwidth. At the same time, the shape of the coupling aperture is initially determined.

Clerici, Giancarlo↗

Cross-correlation analysis of the AE index and the interplanetary magnetic field Bz component.

A cross-correlation study between magnetospheric activity (the AE index) and the southward-directed component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is made for a total of 792 hours (33 days) with a time resolution of about 5.5 min. The peak correlation tends to occur when the interplanetary data are shifted approximately 40 min later with respect to the AE index data. Cross-correlation analysis is conducted on some idealized wave forms to illustrate that this delay between southward turning of the IMF and the AE index should not be interpreted as being the duration of the growth phase.

Meng, C.-I.↗

Fine-scale structure of the Jovian magnetotail current sheet

During the outbound leg of its passage through the Jovian magnetosphere in the Voyager 2 spacecraft observed 50 traversals of the magnetotail current sheet during a 10 day period at distances between 30 and 130 R sub j. Analysis of these observations shown that the Jovian tail sheet tends to lie approximately parallel to the ecliptic plane and to oscillate about the tail axis with the 10 hour planetary rotation period. The magnetic structure near and within the current sheet was variable with time and distance from Jupiter, but generally corresponded to one of the following: (1) simple rotation of field across the sheet, with an approximately southward direction in the sheet (generally northward beyond a distance from Jupiter of approximately 84 R sub j; (2) field having a southward component in a broad region near the sheet, but northward in a restricted region at the sheet itself; or (3) a clear bipolar variation of the sheet normal field component as the sheet was crossed (i.e., the field became northward and then southward, or vice versa, in crossing the sheet).

Behannon, K. W.↗

Average dimension and magnetic structure of the distant Venus magnetotail

The first major statistical investigation of the far wake of an unmagnetized object embedded in the solar wind is reported. The investigation is based on Pioneer Venus Orbiter magnetometer data from 70 crossings of the Venus wake at altitudes between 5 and 11 Venus radii during reasonably steady IMF conditions. It is found that Venus has a well-developed-tail, flaring with altitude and possibly broader in the direction parallel to the IMF cross-flow component. Tail lobe field polarities and the direction of the cross-tail field are consistent with tail accretion from the solar wind. Average values for the cross-tail field (2 nT) and the distant tail flux (3 MWb) indicate that most distant tail field lines close across the center of the tail and are not rooted in the Venus ionosphere. The findings are illustrated in a three-dimensional schematic.

Saunders, M. A.↗

Holographic matched filter for full-field in-line signal processing of optical-fiber sensor outputs

A holographic matched filter is used to measure the changes in the output of a dual-mode fiber undergoing axial strain. The hologram is formed by interfering collimated light from a single-mode reference fiber and an unstrained dual-mode sensor fiber on a small piece of holographic material. When the hologram is illuminated by the strained sensor fiber, the cross-correlation field comparing the dual-mode output and its previous state, as recorded in the hologram, is collected, focused into a pick-up fiber, and sent to a photodiode. This arrangement allows for a compact, in-line method for full-field processing of the strain-induced changes in phase and amplitude in the sensor fiber. Other uses of such fiber-based correlators are suggested.

Indebetouw, Guy↗

Influence of channel base current and varying return stroke speed on the calculated fields of three important return stroke models

Compared here are the calculated fields of the Traveling Current Source (TCS), Modified Transmission Line (MTL), and the Diendorfer-Uman (DU) models with a channel base current assumed in Nucci et al. on the one hand and with the channel base current assumed in Diendorfer and Uman on the other hand. The characteristics of the field wave shapes are shown to be very sensitive to the channel base current, especially the field zero crossing at 100 km for the TCS and DU models, and the magnetic hump after the initial peak at close range for the TCS models. Also, the DU model is theoretically extended to include any arbitrarily varying return stroke speed with height. A brief discussion is presented on the effects of an exponentially decreasing speed with height on the calculated fields for the TCS, MTL, and DU models.

Thottappillil, Rajeev↗

Automated Identification of Initial Storm Electrification and End-of-Storm Electrification Using Electric Field Mill Sensors

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) operations are located in a region which experiences one of the highest lightning densities across the United States. As a result, on average, KSC loses almost 30 minutes of operational availability each day for lightning sensitive activities. KSC is investigating using existing instrumentation and automated algorithms to improve the timeliness and accuracy of lightning warnings. Additionally, the automation routines will be warning on a grid to minimize under-warnings associated with not being located in the center of the warning area and over-warnings associated with encompassing too large an area. This study discusses utilization of electric field mill data to provide improved warning times. Specifically, this paper will demonstrate improved performance of an enveloping algorithm of the electric field mill data as compared with the electric field zero crossing to identify initial storm electrification. End-of-Storm-Oscillation (EOSO) identification algorithms will also be analyzed to identify performance improvement, if any, when compared with 30 minutes after the last lightning flash.

initial storm electrification↗

Decelerated Magnetoshealth Plasma Flow at High Latitudes Behind the Cusp Region: Interball Tail Observations

On May 25, 1996 the Interball Tail spacecraft was moving through the northern hemisphere of the high-latitude magnetosphere on its outbound trajectory. It successively crossed lobe field lines followed by the high latitude magnetopause, then entering the magnetoshealth proper near the cusp region covering magnetic local time from 8h20m to 9h30m at magnetic latitudes of about 770. IMF observed by WIND was northward during the time interval of interest and favorable for reconnection at high latitude magnetopause. The well-defined De Hoffmann Teller frame and stress balance indicate that the magnetopause was a rotational discontinuity with ongoing reconnection. After the magnetopause crossing, the spacecraft observed decelerated magnetoshealth flow in the sub-Alvinic regime. A gradually increasing of the flow velocity is observed and the plasma flow regime changed from sub-Alfvnic through Alfinic to super-Alfvnic one. We explain these results by direct passing of the Interball Tail through the secondary stagnation point, which has been predicted by theoretical and semiempirical models of the high latitude magnetopause.

Avanov, L. A.↗

Integral equation formulation for probe corrected far-field reconstruction from measurements on a cylinder

A method has been developed for far-field evaluation from measurements taken on a cylinder. The antenna and probe fields are represented by superpositions of plane waves, and two integral equations are derived whose functions are the elevation and azimuthal components of the antenna pattern. The known components are the measurements taken by either two probes or a single probe with two geometrical orientations. The convolutional nature of the integral equations makes Fourier analysis techniques applicable to a straightforward solution and an efficient computational procedure. Good agreement has been found between experimental and reconstructed patterns for both nominal and cross polarized field components.

Borgiotti, G. V.↗

Cross correlation between cosmic-ray fluctuations and interplanetary magnetic-field fluctuations

Study of the cross-correlation between cosmic-ray intensity fluctuations and the interplanetary magnetic field, using the low-frequency limit of the theory of the interplanetary scintillations of cosmic rays. Cross-spectral analysis of the flux of the Alert neutron monitor and simultaneous values of the interplanetary magnetic field components are presented which support the theory. A model of cosmic-ray fluctuations is described, with effects of gradients and interplanetary sector structure dominating for very low frequencies (less than or about equal to .000005 Hz) and magnetic-field induced interplanetary scintillations of cosmic rays dominating for higher frequencies.

Jokipii, J. R.↗

Field tests of the optical cross beam system

Recent detailed evaluation of the use of an optical cross-beam system to measure convective wind velocities are reported. Low level measurements, where the optical system is looking at either the earth surface or cloud banks, are demonstrated. Further information on the nature and scale of the light fluctuations is reviewed.

Sandborn, V. A.↗