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Electrostatic shocks as the source of discrete auroral arcs
Author(s) -
Torbert R. B.,
Mozer F. S.
Publication year - 1978
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/gl005i002p00135
Subject(s) - geophysics , acceleration , electron precipitation , physics , field line , magnetic field , plasma , electric field , electrostatics , particle acceleration , computational physics , field (mathematics) , geology , mechanics , classical mechanics , magnetosphere , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics
Properties of typical electrostatic shocks, as determined from 207 observations on high latitude magnetic field lines, are summarized. Seven arguments are presented in support of the view that discrete auroral arcs are produced by electron acceleration inside electrostatic shocks.