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Discovery of He 2+ and O 2+ ions of terrestrial origin in the outer magnetosphere
Author(s) -
Young D. T.,
Geiss J.,
Balsiger H.,
Eberhardt P.,
Ghielmetti A.,
Rosenbauer H.
Publication year - 1977
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/gl004i012p00561
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , ion , physics , earth radius , van allen radiation belt , range (aeronautics) , nuclear physics , materials science , plasma , quantum mechanics , composite material
Using the Ion Composition Experiment (ICE) on board ESA'S GEOS satellite we have observed He 2+ and O 2+ ions of terrestrial origin in the outer magnetosphere predominantly in the energy range ∼ 1 ‐ 100 eV. Data were obtained near the equatorial plane at geocentric distances of 3 to 7 earth radii in the local time sector 1500 ‐ 2100 hours. During periods when doubly charged ions are observed typical abundances are O 2+ /O + ∼ 30% and He 2+ /He + ∼ 0.5% ‐ 10%. The proportions of the major constituents H + , He + , and O + are highly variable with He + occasionally the dominant species at higher altitudes.