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Dependence of the charge exchange lifetimes on mirror latitude
Author(s) -
Smith Paul H.,
Bewtra N. K.
Publication year - 1976
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/gl003i011p00689
Subject(s) - equator , ring current , charge exchange , ion , physics , atomic physics , computational physics , charge (physics) , latitude , magnetosphere , nuclear physics , astronomy , plasma , quantum mechanics
The dependence of the charge exchange lifetimes on the mirror latitude for ions mirroring off the geomagnetic equator has been re‐computed using the improved hydrogen distribution models which have become available since the earlier calculation by Liemohn. The Chamberlain model, with the input parameters determined by recent satellite observations, has been used to define the spatial distribution of the neutral hydrogen environment through which the ring current ions traverse. The resultant dependence of the charge exchange lifetime, τ, on mirror latitude, λm, is best fit by the approximation τm = τe cos 3.5 λm, where τe is the charge exchange lifetime for the equatorial particles. This is a significant change from the cos 6 λm approximation of the previous results.