Auroral electrons of energy less than 1 keV observed at rocket altitudes.

Measurements of electrons of energy less than 1 keV in the auroral precipitation with detectors aboard three rocket flights are discussed. Detectors simultaneously measured the flux of electrons moving up and down the magnetic field lines. Electrons of energy less than a few hundred electron volts show directional intensities ranging from isotropic over the upper hemisphere, to field aligned into the atmosphere, to a net streaming out of the atmosphere. Cases of reflection coefficients greater than 1 for the few hundred electron volts and lower-energy electrons occur when measurements were made north of auroral forms. These electrons might represent the high-energy tail of the return Birkeland currents. The origin of the low-energy electrons is itself in question.