Recent observations of beam plasma interactions in the ionosphere and a comparison with laboratory studies of the beam plasma dischargeExperimental results from an electron beam injection rocket flight (27:010 AE) launched into an active aurora are summarized. The rocket carried an accelerator which injected programmed electron beams of less than 100 ma at 2 and 4 kV into the ionospheric plasma over the altitude range 120-240 km. A major objective of the experiment was the study of beam-plasma interactions and the possible identification of the ignition of the beam-plasma discharge (BPD) which had been intensively studied in the laboratory. A qualitative assessment of the data indicates that BPD ignition was produced by both 10 ma and Im beams at 2 and 4 kV. Many of the observed characteristics are similar to the BPD characteristics observed in the laboratory.
Document ID
19830052960
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bernstein, W. (Rice University Houston, TX, United States)
Kellogg, P. J. (Rice Univ. Houston, TX, United States)
Monson, S. J. (Minnesota, University Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Holzworth, R. H. (Aerospace Corp. El Segundo, CA, United States)
Whalen, B. A. (National Research Council Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, Ottawa, Canada)
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