The use of artificial electron beams as probes of the distant magnetosphereExperiments are reported in which electron beams were injected into the magnetosphere (with up to 40 kev energy and at current up to 0.8 A) to diagnose the plasma processes at great distance by measurements made in the ionosphere. In some of the experiments, the conjugate region atmosphere was used to detect the electron beam; in others, conjugate echoes were detected near the injection region. The echoes were found to respond to changes in the convection fields and to reflect auroral zone activity. Theoretical and experimental echo patterns are discussed. Evidence for beam pitch angle scattering and altered mirror heights is presented. The use of the atmospheric response to electron beams in the loss cone as a detector has been achieved using optical, X-ray, and radar techniques.
Document ID
19830052959
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Winckler, J. R. (Minnesota, University Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Artificial particle beams in space plasma studies; Advanced Research Institute