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Large‐scale structure of the electric field and field‐aligned currents in the auroral oval From the Intercosmos‐Bulgaria‐1300 satellite data
Author(s) -
Podgorny I. M.,
Dubinin E. M.,
Izrailevich P. L.,
Nikolaeva N. S.
Publication year - 1988
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/gl015i013p01538
Subject(s) - electrojet , electric field , geophysics , ionospheric dynamo region , ionosphere , magnetosphere , lorentz force , physics , earth's magnetic field , equatorial electrojet , electric current , field (mathematics) , magnetic field , field line , ring current , geomagnetic storm , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics
Electric fields and currents were studied at the night side of the auroral oval. The electric field distribution between the field‐aligned current sheets is determined by the Pedersen conductivity of the ionosphere. The ionosphere is a load in an electric circuit whose generator is located in the magnetosphere. The site of electric field generation is assumed to be the current sheet of the magnetospheric tail. The plasma in the tail is assumed to be polarized under the influence of a Lorentz force. The polarization field is projected along geomagnetic field lines to the auroral zone and causes the Hall current that constitutes a westward electrojet.