An important modification was made in the method for computing ion densities from DE1/RIMS observations, based on the observed relationship between total plasma density and spacecraft potential. An iterative technique was developed to require that this relationship be preserved in all individual observations, not just in the average sense observed. Results of employing this technique were examined closely and are found to generally improve the final densities in terms of agreement with...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ION DENSITY (CONCENTRATION), MATHEMATICAL MODELS, SPACE...
Hardware activities were concentrated on the Low Energy Ion Facility (LEIF), which is used for testing and calibration of most of the flight instruments for near-Earth observations. The ion beam generated by the ion source in the LEIF has been required for the proper testing and calibration of the primary components of the Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) to be flown on the POLAR spacecraft of the Global Geospace Science (GGS) flight program. Additional work has been done on equipment and...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), CALIBRATING, FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS, ION BEAMS, MANAGEMENT...
Analysis techniques and software development, data analysis and modeling, laboratory plasma flow studies, meetings, and publications are presented.
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), DATA PROCESSING, MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW, SOFTWARE...
The discussion in this final report is limited to a summary of important accomplishments. These accomplishments include the generalized semikinetic (GSK) model, O(+) outflows in the F-region ionosphere, field-aligned flows and trapped ion distributions, ULF wave ray-tracing, and plasmasphere-ionosphere coupling.
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), PLASMASPHERE, EARTH IONOSPHERE, TRAPPED PARTICLES, EARTH...
In an initial study, the He(+) observations from the Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer on Dynamics Explorer 1 (RIMS/DE 1) was examined for more than 120 transits of the plasmasphere in the fall of 1981. The He(+) to H(+) ratio was determined as it varied spatially over portions of the DE 1 orbit, and its variation with solar and magnetic activities and with local time, focusing specifically on the inner plasmasphere. These variations were compared along the L = 2 field line with calculations made...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), PLASMASPHERE, PLASMA DENSITY, MAGNETIC VARIATIONS, SOLAR...
The topics addressed are: (1) generalized semikinetic models; (2) collision-collisionless transition model; (3) observation of O+ outflows; (4) equatorial transitions; (5) inner plasmasphere-ionosphere coupling; (6) plasma wave physical processes; (7) ULF wave ray-tracing; and (8) nighttime anomalous electron heating events.
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), MAGNETOSPHERES, MATHEMATICAL MODELS, PLASMA DYNAMICS, PLASMA...
During the course of this grant, work was performed on a variety of topics and there were a number of significant accomplishments. A summary of these accomplishments is included. The topics studied include empirical model data base, data reduction for archiving, semikinetic modeling of low energy plasma in the inner terrestrial magnetosphere and ionosphere, O(+) outflows, equatorial plasma trough, and plasma wave ray-tracing studies. A list of publications and presentations which have resulted...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), OXYGEN IONS, PLASMA PHYSICS, PLASMA WAVES, RAY TRACING, SPACE...
During the course of this research, several investigations have been carried out at both high and low altitudes. The low altitude studies are those associated with perigee observations of ion field-aligned flows measured by POLAR/TIDE near 5000 km altitude. High altitude studies employed ion observations near apogee (above 6 R(sub E) geocentric). In both cases the observations occur at high latitudes, in or near the polar regions: the southern polar region for the low altitude studies and the...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS, CONVECTION, FLOW VELOCITY, HIGH...
A time dependent semi-kinetic model that includes self collisions and ion-neutral collisions and chemistry was developed. Light ion outflow in the polar cap transition region was modeled and compared with data results. A model study of wave heating of O+ ions in the topside transition region was carried out using a code which does local calculations that include ion-neutral and Coulomb self collisions as well as production and loss of O+. Another project is a statistical study of hydrogen spin...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), COULOMB COLLISIONS, ION TEMPERATURE, IONIC COLLISIONS, LIGHT...
Topics and investigations covering this period of this semiannual report period (August 1994 - January 1995) are as follows: (1) Generalized SemiKinetic (GSK) modeling of the synergistic interaction of transverse heating of ionospheric ions and magnetospheric plasma-driven electric potentials on the auroral plasma transport. Also, presentations of GSK modeling of auroral electron precipitation effects on ionospheric plasma outflows, of ExB effects on such outflow, and on warm plasma...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ATMOSPHERIC IONIZATION, ATMOSPHERIC MODELS, EARTH ATMOSPHERE,...
