Venus nightside ionospheric holes - The signatures of parallel electric field acceleration regions

Attention is given to the existence of 'holes', that is, regions of density depletion in the nightside Venus ionosphere associated with regions of radial magnetic fields. The properties of the electrons within the core of these holes are thought to suggest an acceleration process along the magnetic field lines, a process also suggested by the Venera 9 and 10 observations of energetic ions in the Venus tail. On the basis of the observational information, these Venusian plasma depletions are attributed to the presence of parallel electric fields similar to those observed in the terrestrial auroral ionosphere. The resulting electric field accelerates electrons down the field lines, heating the depleted thermal electron population within the hole and producing ionization below the hole. At the same time, ionospheric ions are accelerated outward toward the plasmasheet.