Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 91, Sept. 1, 1986, p. 10080-10096.
Data from the S3-3 and DE 1 satellites are analyzed to study the interaction between H(+) and O(+) ions in upgoing auroral beams. Every data set analyzed showed some evidence of an interaction. The measured plasma was found to be unstable to a low-frequency electrostatic wave that propagates at an oblique angle to vector-B(0). A second wave, which can propagate parallel to vector-B(0), is weakly damped in the plasma studied in most detail. It is likely that the upgoing ion beams generate this parallel wave at lower altitudes. The resulting wave-particle interactions qualitatively can explain most of the features observed in ion distribution functions.
Major Subject Terms: AURORAL ELECTROJETS, AURORAS, ION BEAMS, PLASMA INTERACTIONS
Minor Subject Terms: ELECTROSTATIC WAVES, ION DISTRIBUTION, IONOSPHERIC ION DENSITY, SPACE PLASMAS, VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION, WAVE PROPAGATION
CASI Accession Number: A8714940 ISSN 0148-0227