Particle Acceleration, Spatial Structure, and Pulsations in the Aurora
Abstract
Three current problems concerning particle precipitation in the aurora are discussed. It is suggested that acceleration may be due to a concentration of energy within a precipitating particle stream. Fine structure in the optical aurora is thought to be a natural consequence of observed electron distributions. A model of auroral pulsations based on a changing geometry of the aurora zone magnetic field lines, appears to be supported by experimental data.
- Publication:
-
European Sounding Rocket, Balloon and Related Research, with Emphasis on Experiments at High Latitudes
- Pub Date:
- June 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978ESASP.135...53B
- Keywords:
-
- Auroras;
- Fine Structure;
- Particle Acceleration;
- Periodic Variations;
- Auroral Ionization;
- Electron Distribution;
- Electron Precipitation;
- Magnetic Disturbances;
- Polar Regions;
- Rocket Sounding;
- Geophysics