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Ion transport and loss in the earth's quiet ring current. I - Data and standard modelA study of the transport and loss of ions in the earth's quiet time ring current, in which the standard radial diffusion model developed for the high-energy radiation belt particles is compared with the measurements of the lower-energy ring current ions, is presented. The data set provides ionic composition information in an energy range that includes the bulk of the ring current energy density, 1-300 keV/e. Protons are found to dominate the quiet time energy density at all altitudes, peaking near L of about 4 at 60 keV/cu cm, with much smaller contributions from O(+) (1-10 percent), He(+) (1-5 percent), and He(2+) (less than 1 percent). A minimization procedure is used to fit the amplitudes of the standard electric radial diffusion coefficient, yielding 5.8 x 10 exp -11 R(E-squared)/s. Fluctuation ionospheric electric fields are suggested as the source of the additional diffusion detected.
Document ID
19930071555
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sheldon, R. B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hamilton, D. C.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 98
Issue: A8
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A55552
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-716
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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