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Magnetic field-aligned electric field acceleration and the characteristics of the optical auroraThe long-recognized association of brighter aurora with more deeply penetrating, and hence more energetic, electrons is examined. Using the Knight (1973) relation between the magnetic-field-aligned current density and potential drop (derived from the theory of single-particle motion in the presence of a magnetic-field-aligned electric field), an approximate expression relating the energy flux of the precipitating electrons over discrete aurora and the mean particle energy is derived. This expression is used in conjunction with an auroral optical excitation and emission model to specify the dependence of the red/blue ratio of auroral optical emissions on the brightness of the aurora. It is shown that the quantitative predictions of the discrete auroral theory are in accord with observations of the aurora.
Document ID
19870056489
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Christensen, A. B.
(Aerospace Corp. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Lyons, L. R.
(Aerospace Corp. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Hecht, J. H.
(Aerospace Corp. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Sivjee, G. G.
(Aerospace Corp. Space Sciences Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Meier, R. R.
(U.S. Navy, E. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, Washington DC, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 92
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
87A43763
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-86-05915
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-85-42125
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-85-03847
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-853
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-6032
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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