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First Optical Observations of Interhemispheric Electron Reflections Within Pulsating AuroraA case study of a pulsating auroral event imaged optically at high time resolution presents direct observational evidence in agreement with the interhemispheric electron bouncing predicted by the Super Thermal Electron Transport model. Pulsation-on times are identified and subsequent equally spaced fainter pulsations are also noted and can be explained by a portion/percentage of the primary precipitating electrons reflecting upward from the ionosphere, traveling to the opposite hemisphere and reflecting upward again. The high time resolution of these data, combined with the short duration of the pulsation-on time (approx. 1 s) and the relatively long spacing between pulsations (approx. 6 to 9 s) made it possible to observe the faint optical pulses caused by the reflected electrons coming from the opposite hemisphere.
Document ID
20170007792
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Samara, M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Michell, R. G.
(Maryland Univ. College Park, MD, United States)
Khazanov, G. V.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2017
Publication Date
March 22, 2017
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: AGU Publishing
Volume: 44
Issue: 6
ISSN: 2041-8205
e-ISSN: 2041-8213
Subject Category
Geophysics
Instrumentation And Photography
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN45741
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG17PT01A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AGS-1456161
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AGS-1456129
PROJECT: 673-2017-017
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX15AG06G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
thermal
interhemispheric
auroral

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