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Rocket measurements of energetic particles in the midlatitude precipitation zoneMeasurements of energetic ion and electron properties as a function of altitude in the midlatitude zone of nighttime energetic particle precipitation are reported. The measurements of particle fluxes, energy spectra and pitch angle distributions were obtained by a Langmuir probe, six energetic particle spectrometers and an electrostatic analyzer on board a Nike Apache rocket launched near the center of the midlatitude zone during disturbed conditions. It is found that the incident flux was primarily absorbed rather than backscattered, and consists of mainly energetic hydrogen together with some helium and a small energetic electron component. Observed differential energy spectra of protons having an exponential energy spectrum, and pitch angle distributions at various altitudes indicate that the energetic particle flux decreases rapidly for pitch angles less than 70 deg. An energetic particle energy flux of 0.002 ergs/sq cm per sec is calculated which indicates the significance of energetic particles as a primary nighttime ionization source for altitudes between 120 and 200 km in the midlatitude precipitation zone.
Document ID
19800067434
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Voss, H. D.
(Illinois Univ. Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States)
Smith, L. G.
(Illinois Univ. Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States)
Braswell, F. M.
(Illinois, University Urbana, Ill., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1980
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space research. Volume 20
Location: Bangalore
Country: India
Start Date: May 29, 1979
End Date: June 9, 1979
Accession Number
80A51604
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-14-005-181
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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