NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Angular dependent transport of auroral electrons in the upper atmosphereThe transport of auroral electrons through the upper atmosphere is analyzed. The transport equation is solved using a discrete-ordinate method, including elastic and inelastic scattering of electrons (resulting in changes of pitch angle) and degradation in energy as the electrons penetrate into the atmosphere. The transport equation is solved numerically for the electron intensity as a function of altitude, pitch angle, and energy. In situ measurements of the pitch angle and energy distribution of precipitating electrons over an auroral arc provide boundary conditions for the calculation. Model calculations were carried out with various different phase functions for elastic and inelastic collisions to attempt changing the angular scattering, but the observed pitch angle distributions remain unexplained. It is suggested that mechanisms other than collisional scattering influence the angular distribution of auroral electrons at or below 300 km altitude in the low-energy domain.
Document ID
19890047624
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lummerzheim, D.
(Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, AK, United States)
Rees, M. H.
(Alaska, University Fairbanks, United States)
Anderson, H. R.
(Science Applications International Corp. Bellevue, WA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary and Space Science
Volume: 37
ISSN: 0032-0633
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
89A34995
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-26944
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-87-01192
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-83-12883
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS6-1667
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available