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A satellite investigation of energy flux and inferred potential drop in auroral electron energy spectraBecause predicted relationship (epsilon directly varies with V squared) between auroral electron energy flux (epsilon) and the inferred acceleration potential drop (V) for accelerated Maxwellian distributions was favorably tested by other using sounding rocket data for the limiting case of eVE 1 (where Ec is the characteristic energy of the accelerated Maxwellian distribution) and for a single inverted-V observed by the Injun 5 satellite, data from Atmosphere D were used to extend these studies over the range .2 eV/Ec 5 and for a wide range of latitudes and local times on both the nightside and the dayside. Results show good agreement with the full accelerated Maxwellian model. An analytical approximation to the electron energy flux was derived which better describes the data over the range .2 eV/Ec approximated 3. Analyses of individual energy spectra at small and large pitch angles through well-defined inverted-V structures suggest that the altitude of the inferred potential drop maximizes near the center of the inverted-V's.
Document ID
19810017461
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other
Authors
Meniett, J. D.
(Southwest Research Inst. Houston, TX, United States)
Burch, J. L.
(Texas Univ. at San Antonio)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Texas Univ. at San Antonio Res. on Solar-Wind Magnetospheric Elec. Fields and Plasmas
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
81N25997
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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