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Ring current proton decay by charge exchangeExplorer 45 (S3-A) measurements were made during the recovery phase of the moderate magnetic storm of February 24, 1972, in which a symmetric ring current had developed and effects due to asymmetric ring current losses could be eliminated. It was found that after the initial rapid decay of the proton flux, which is a consequence of the dissipation of the asymmetric ring current, the equatorially mirroring protons in the energy range 5-30 keV decayed throughout the L value range of 3.5-5.0 at the charge exchange decay rate calculated by Liemohn (1961). After several days of decay, the proton fluxes reached a lower limit where an apparent equilibrium was maintained, between weak particle source mechanisms and the loss mechanisms, until fresh protons were injected into the ring current region during substorms. While other proton loss mechanisms may also be operating, the results indicate that charge exchange is more than sufficient as a particle loss mechanism for the storm time proton ring current decay.
Document ID
19760053288
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Smith, P. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hoffman, R. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Planetary Atmospheres, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Fritz, T. A.
(NOAA, Space Environment Laboratory, Boulder Colo., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1976
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 81
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
76A36254
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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