Open AccessThe roles of static and dynamic electric fields in the auroral acceleration region
Author(s) -
Bryant Duncan A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2001ja900162
Subject(s) - electric field , physics , electron , acceleration , computational physics , plasma , satellite , particle acceleration , electron precipitation , geophysics , magnetosphere , classical mechanics , astronomy , quantum mechanics
Charged particles and electric fields measured by the Fast Auroral Snapshot satellite (FAST) are being widely interpreted as final vindication of the theory that the electrons responsible for the brightest and most highly structured forms of aurora gain their energy by being accelerated in static electric fields. However, measurements of electrostatic waves from the same satellite also give further impetus to the opposing theory that the electrons are energized by the dynamic electric fields of plasma waves. Consideration of the different capabilities of static and dynamic electric fields leads to a model of the auroral electron acceleration region incorporating acceleration by both types of fields. An experimental test of the model is suggested.