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Magnetosphere‐ionosphere energy interchange in the electron diffuse aurora
Author(s) -
Khazanov G. V.,
Glocer A.,
Himwich E. W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2013ja019325
Subject(s) - ionosphere , electron precipitation , magnetosphere , electron , physics , atomic physics , ionization , atmosphere (unit) , atmospheric sciences , computational physics , geophysics , ion , plasma , nuclear physics , meteorology , quantum mechanics
The diffuse aurora has recently been shown to be a major contributor of energy flux into the Earth's ionosphere. Therefore, a comprehensive theoretical analysis is required to understand its role in energy redistribution in the coupled ionosphere‐magnetosphere system. In previous theoretical descriptions of precipitated magnetospheric electrons ( E ∼ 1 keV), the major focus has been the ionization and excitation rates of the neutral atmosphere and the energy deposition rate to thermal ionospheric electrons. However, these precipitating electrons will also produce secondary electrons via impact ionization of the neutral atmosphere. This paper presents the solution of the Boltzman‐Landau kinetic equation that uniformly describes the entire electron distribution function in the diffuse aurora, including the affiliated production of secondary electrons ( E < 600 eV) and their ionosphere‐magnetosphere coupling processes. In this article, we discuss for the first time how diffuse electron precipitation into the atmosphere and the associated secondary electron production participate in ionosphere‐magnetosphere energy redistribution.

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