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Gas ionization induced by a high speed plasma injection in spaceGas ionization induced by a fast plasma injection has been observed with the Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC) Experiment on Spacelab-1. When an impulsive high-density plasma was injected from the orbiter, waves near the lower-hybrid frequency were enhanced, and the surrounding gas drifting with the orbiter was ionized for several tens of milliseconds after the plasma injection. The long-duration gas ionization was observed only when the plasma flux incoming to the orbiter cargo bay and the orbital velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field were relatively large. This effect has been explained by the concept of critical velocity ionization (CVI) for the gas drifting with the orbiter, although the gas velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field was less than the Alfven critical velocity.
Document ID
19860053903
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sasaki, S.
(Tokyo Univ. Japan)
Kawashima, N.
(Tokyo Univ. Japan)
Kuriki, K.
(Tokyo Univ. Japan)
Yanagisawa, M.
(Tokyo Univ. Japan)
Obayashi, T.
(Tokyo, University Japan)
Roberts, W. T.
(Tokyo Univ. Japan)
Reasoner, D. L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Taylor, W. W. L.
(TRW Space and Technology Group Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 13
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Accession Number
86A38641
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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