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Gum Nebula size, density and electron temperature data from RAE-1 and OGO-5 satellites and ground based telescopes observations, correlating with Vela X supernova outburst
The ability of a theoretical solar wind model to predict the energy flux density due to heat conduction was investigated. In order to demonstrate this capability, the analysis used simultaneous data from the electron plasma experiment of Ogilvie and Lind, and the vector magnetic field data of Heppner and Sugiura on OGO-5. On the strength of two independent, different, and consistent experimental determinations of the conduction of heat flux by electrons at 149.6 gigameters(1 AU), it was determined that the models for the solar wind must be able to predict a value for the heat conduction in the range 0.007 to 0.008 in order to be in agreement with the observations.
The pulsation model of the earth's bow shock proposed a nonuniform shock having both perpendicular (abrupt, monotonic) and oblique (oscillatory, multigradient) properties simultaneously, depending on local orientation of the shock surface to the interplanetary field B sub sw in parallel planes defined by B sub sw and solar wind velocity. Multiple, concurrent, satellite observations of the shock and solar wind conditions were used. Twenty-six potentially useful intervals of concurrent Explorer 33 and 35 data acquisition were examined, of which six were selected for closer study. In addition, two years of OGO-5 and HEOS 1 magnetometer data were examined for possible conjunctions to these spacecraft having applicable data. One case of clear nonuniformity and several of field-dependent structure were documented. A computational aid, called pulsation index, was developed.
The perturbation vectors of waves up and downstream from the region of maximum compression in the bow shock were examined on OGO-5 under particularly steady solar wind conditions. The polarization of the upstream waves was RH, circular and of the downstream waves LH, elliptical in the spacecraft frame. By observing that the polarization of the waves remained unchanged as the shock motion swept the wave structure back and forth across the satellite three times in eight minutes, it was found that the waves were not stationary in the shock frame. A study of the methods of determining the shock normal indicates that the normal estimated from a shock model should be superior to one based upon magnetic coplanarity. The propagation vectors of the waves examined did not coincide with the shock model normal, the average magnetic field, or the plasma flow velocity. However, the major axis of the polarization ellipse of the downstream wave was nearly parallel to the upstream propagation vector.
Research completed and in progress is described, related publications and reports are listed, and abstracts of papers and talks on results of the research are given. The charged particle research centered on OGO-5 and OGO-6 electron spectrometer data, and theoretical radiation belt studies. Work on the ATS-1 magnetometer project included development of production data reduction programs, development of spectral analysis procedures, and scientific studies of ULF waves at synchronous orbit. The magnetic fields research also included work on the Mariner project and theoretical studies on the solar wind.
Observations of the quiet time ring current intensity and distribution in the magnetosphere by OGO-3 and OGO-5 are given. The differences in quiet time ring currents and ring currents observed during magnetic storms are discussed.
The observations of impulsive solar-flare X-rays above 10 keV made with OGO-5 satellite have been analyzed in order to study the variation of the nonthermal electron spectrum from one flare to another. The X-ray spectrum at the maxima of 129 impulsive X-ray bursts is represented by KE to the minus-gamma power photons per sq cm per sec per keV, and the frequency of occurrence of bursts with different values of gamma is studied. It is found that for gamma less than 4.0 the frequency of bursts rapidly decreases with the decrease in the value of gamma. The probability of occurrence of a burst with gamma less than 2.3 is extremely small.
Observations of impulsive solar flare X rays (energy greater than 10 keV) by the OGO-5 satellite and the measurements of energetic solar electrons made with the Explorer-35 and Explorer-41 (IMP-5) satellites during the period March 1968-September 1969 have been analyzed in order to determine the ion density in the X-ray source region as well as the location of the electron acceleration region in the solar atmosphere. The ion density in the X-ray source region varies from event to event and lies between 1 and 100 billion ions per cu cm for those events in which the impulsive X-ray emission could be detected; for those events in which no impulsive emission was detected above threshold, the ion density in the X-ray source was less than one billion ions per cu cm. At least in some small solar flares, the region where the electrons are accelerated during the flash phase is located in the lower corona.
Preliminary results and conclusions of a study of electric field oscillations in the upstream solar wind are reported. The OGO-5 orbits are on the dusk (three) and on the dawn (one) sides of the earth-sun line. It is concluded that there are electron streams produced at or near the bow shock. These streams penetrate the incoming solar wind plasma, and generate quasi-electromagnetic waves. The streams (as inferred from the wave levels) occur without regard to dawn-dusk location, as opposed to the low-frequency MHD upstream disturbances driven by backstreaming protons, which show a definitely strong preference for the dawn-noon sector. The presence of the suprathermal electron streams and associated wave turbulence indicates that some near-earth electron distributions are probably not representative of true solar wind distributions far away from the earth.
Results of scanning Comet Bennett in L alpha from OGO-5 are reported. A plot of the comet isophotes in L alpha is presented. The outer envelope of the comet is approximately the 50-Rayleigh contour.
Fluxgate magnetometer data obtained by OGO-5 near perigee were used to establish the existence of large field depressions in the magnetosphere under conditions of varying degree of disturbance at distances ranging from 2.3 to 3.6 R sub E at all local times. The results also provide the average delta B at these distances when Dst, as being derived at present, is zero.
Research progress in particles and fields is summarized, including studies on auroral helium ions and protons, auroral electrons, and OGO-5 data analysis on magnetosphere. Upper atmospheric physics and solar and stellar astronomy are also considered.
A model of the Starfish electrons injected into the radiation belt in July 1962 was determined for epoch September 1964. This model distinguishes between artificial and natural electrons and provides the artificial unidirectional electron flux as a function of equatorial pitch angle, energy, and L value. The model is based primarily upon data from the OGO-1, OGO-3, OGO-5, 1963-38C, and the OV3-3 satellites. Decay times for the Starfish electrons are given as a function of energy and L value. These decay times represent the best compromise between a number of independently determined values. The times at which the artificial Starfish flux component had become insignificant in comparison to the natural flux component are determined as functions of energy and L value. These times are determined by two separate methods, and averaged values are presented. It is shown that Starfish electrons, by the present time, have become insignificant for all energies and L values.
An impulsive burst of 100-400 keV solar X-rays associated with a small solar flare was observed on October 10, 1970 with a large area scintillator aboard a balloon. The X-ray burst was also observed simultaneously in 10-80 keV range by the OGO-5 satellite and in 8-20 A range by the SOLRAD-9 satellite. The event is attributed to an H-alpha subflare located approximately at S13, E88 on the solar disk. The spectral characteristics of this event are examined in the light of the earlier X-ray observations of small solar flares.
Observations of impulsive solar flare X-rays greater than or about equal to 10 keV made with the OGO-5 satellite are compared with ground-based measurements of type III solar radio bursts in 10- to 580-MHz range. It is shown that the times of maxima of these two emissions, when detectable, agree within about 18 sec. This maximum time difference is comparable to that between the maxima of the impulsive X-ray and impulsive microwave bursts. In view of the various observational uncertainties, it is argued that the observations are consistent with the impulsive X-ray, impulsive microwave, and type III radio bursts being essentially simultaneous. The observations are also consistent with 10- to 100-keV electron streams being reponsible for the type III emission. The observations indicate that the non-thermal electron groups responsible for the impulsive X-ray, impulsive microwave, and type III radio bursts are accelerated simultaneously in essentially the same region of the solar atmosphere.
Type III bursts were observed between 3.5 MHz and 50 kHz by the University of Michigan radio astronomy experiment aboard the OGO-5 satellite. Decay times were measured and then combined with published data ranging up to about 200 MHz. The observed decay times increase with decreasing frequency, but at a rate considerably slower than that expected from electron-proton Coulomb collisions. At 50 kHz, values differ by about a factor of 100. Using Hartle and Sturrock's solar wind model, Coulomb collisional frequencies were computed and compared with the apparent collisional frequencies deduced from the observations. It was found that the ratio of observed to computed values varies with heliocentric distance according to an inverse 0.71 power.
Triaxial electron spectrometer, mounted on OGO-E SPACECRAFT, measures flux and energy distributions of electrons, noting electron multiplier