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Electrical structure of PMSE and NLC regions during the DROPPS Program
Author(s) -
Croskey Charles L.,
Mitchell John D.,
Friedrich Martin,
Torkar Klaus M.,
Hoppe UlfPeter,
Goldberg Richard A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012540
Subject(s) - rocket (weapon) , ion , langmuir probe , condenser (optics) , electron density , atomic physics , atmospheric sciences , materials science , physics , electron , computational physics , optics , plasma diagnostics , nuclear physics , aerospace engineering , light source , quantum mechanics , engineering
The electrical structure of NLC/PMSE regions was investigated by different rocket‐borne in situ probe techniques as part of the DROPPS program. Gerdien condenser measurements of very small mobility values suggest concentrations of positively charged aerosols/dust comparable to the density of more mobile positive ions at PMSE/NLC altitudes. Relative electron density values and associated large‐ and small‐scale vertical structure measured by DC Langmuir probes revealed very deep (by a factor of 50) biteouts in PMSE/NLC regions. These biteouts were seen during strong and weak NLC conditions when PMSEs were either present or absent.