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Cold plasma distribution above a few thousand kilometers at high latitudesGreat advances with respect to the study of the earth's magnetosphere could be achieved in connection with the launch of the Dynamics Explorer (DE) 1 and 2 spacecraft. These advances were made possible partly because of the unique combination of coplanar orbits which simultaneously sample the low altitude ionospheric and atmospheric signature (DE-2) and the high altitude phenomena of the inner magnetosphere (DE-1). It was, thus, feasible to obtain new measurements of the coupling of plasmas and fields between these fundamentally important regions. One basic element of the coupling involves the interchange of low energy plasma between the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The flow characteristics of the low energy plasma are indicators of the magnetospheric and ionospheric electric fields which drive the current system. The Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer (RIMS) instrument has been designed for conducting measurements regarding this plasma population. Attention is given to details regarding RIMS, an example RIMS orbit, plasma trough characteristics, and polar cap phenomena.
Document ID
19850032964
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Chappell, C. R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Space Sciences Laboratory, Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1983
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
85A15115
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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