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Numerical BGK‐solutions of large scale electrostatic potential in auroral plasmas
Author(s) -
Washimi Haruichi,
Katanuma Isao
Publication year - 1986
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/gl013i009p00897
Subject(s) - plasma , ionosphere , electron , physics , magnetic field , population , amplitude , electric field , computational physics , scale (ratio) , geophysics , atomic physics , optics , quantum mechanics , demography , sociology
Formation of large scale and large amplitude electrostatic potential along magnetic field lines due to a high‐speed plasma flow in auroral plasma is discussed. It is shown that the potential profile which is consistent with observations, i.e., which increases very slowly near the plasmasheet and abruptly near the topside ionosphere, can be obtained by introducing a population of electrons which are trapped between the magnetic mirror and the electrostatic potentials.