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Coniugate Effects of Atmospherically Scattered Auroral Electrons
Author(s) -
Rees M. H.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1002/rds196837645
Subject(s) - electron , physics , ionosphere , longitude , atmosphere (unit) , flux (metallurgy) , computational physics , line of force , field line , magnetic field , atomic physics , astrophysics , geophysics , latitude , astronomy , meteorology , materials science , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
Calculations and experiments have shown that some fraction of an electron stream incident on a gas is scattered in the backward direction. Applied to the aurora we find that about 15 to 20 percent of the electron flux returns up the field lines. These electrons are transferred to the conjugate region via the lines of force, if these are continuous between hemispheres. Losses are negligible, but a small drift in longitude may be expected. The energy spectrum of the electrons becomes softer; however, a close correspondence in occurrence of aurora must prevail. Absence of aurora would be a clear indication that the phenomenon is not associated with closed magnetic shells. A minor effect on the spectral character of the electrons scattered into the conjugate area is found, which could be associated with a difference in the model atmosphere and ionosphere.