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Warm O(+) polar wind and the DE-1 polar cap electron density profileTheoretical steady state semikinetic polar wind density profiles, based on DE1/RIMS polar wind data (up to 3700 km), were obtained which agree very well with the power law electron density profile measured by the DE1/PWI for high altitudes. The polar wind is found to be O(+) dominated for the full altitude range considered (up to 8 R(E)). Multiple solutions are obtained for various combinations of base altitude ion temperatures and electron temperatures, such that the densities fit the Persoon et al. (1983) profile. For example, good fits to measured density profile are found for low base ion temperatures (5000 K) and high electron temperatures (9000 K), and also for unheated H(+) and O(+)(3000 K) with electron temperatures of 11,000 K. Below 2.8 R(E) the theoretical polar wind density deviates somewhat from the r exp -3.85 power law. It is concluded that this theoretical polar wind density profile, with a sum of base electron and ion temperatures of 14,000 K, yields a close match with the measured DE-1 electron density profile.
Document ID
19930072241
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ho, C. W.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Horwitz, J. L.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
August 20, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 20
Issue: 16
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A56238
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG8-134
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG8-822
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1554
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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