Temporal and spatial variations in the Io torus

Spectrographic data on the Io torus from 15 nights of observations spread over a 4-month period in 1981 are presented here. The [SII] λλ6716, 6731; [SII] λλ4069, 4076; [OII] λλ3726, 3729; and [SIII] λ3722 lines were simultaneously measured on each spectrogram. An east-west asymmetry was observed in the optical emissions, showing larger western intensities and a more diffuse and radially extensive nebula to the east. Two configurations of [SII] longitudinal asymmetry that were stable over at least 4 days were observed. The magnetic longitudes of ～ 180 and 300° are shown to be of particular interest. Longitudinal structure was not detected in either the [OII] intensity or the plasma density as measured by the [OII] and [SII] doublet ratios. Errors in the line ratios could mask density variations as large as a factor of ～ 1.5. A radial variation in the ratio of OII/SII was observed, with the ratio being largest near Io's orbit. Monthly variabilitywas detected in both the intensity and density of the tours. The [SII] line ratios indicated an increase in n_e over the 4-month period that was accompanied by increased intensities. For single measurements, no correlation between the [SII] intensities and the [SII] λ6716/λ6731 line ratio was detected, but this could be a result of errors in the line ratio determinations. Extremely low values of this same ratio were measured. These appear to indicate errors in the presently accepted [SII] transition probabilities. These [SII] line ratios indicate that very-high-density regions are present in the torus, and it is shown how these regions could have significantly influenced these measurements.     

Toroidal quarter waves in the Earth’s magnetosphere: theoretical studies

An analytic model has been developed for toroidal quarter wave (QW) oscillations in the Earth’s magnetosphere using idealistic and highly asymmetric ionospheric boundary condition. The background magnetic field is dipolar and plasma density distribution is governed by a power law 1/r ^m where r is the geocentric distance of any point along the field line and m is the density index. The solution thus obtained has been compared with the numerical solutions. Earlier workers had developed the analytic model for trivial 1/r ⁶ (m=6) type of plasma density distribution along the field line for which the period of the fundamental is twice that of corresponding half wave (i.e. toroidal oscillation in the symmetric ionospheric boundary). The present analytic model does reproduce this feature. In addition, it is seen that this ratio decreases for lower values of m. Moreover, for a particular value of m, this ratio shows a decreasing trend with increased harmonic number. The spatial characteristics of QW obtained from present analytic model are in excellent agreement with those computed numerically, thereby validating the model. The departure of frequency computed analytically from that obtained numerically is significant only for the fundamental and this departure reduces sharply with the increased harmonic number. It should be noted that there is no such departure for 1/r ⁶ type of plasma density distribution and spatial structures as well as frequency computed from the present analytic model match perfectly with those computed numerically.     

The excitation mechanism of [Fe XIV] 5303 å line in the inner regions of solar corona

The line intensity of the green coronal line and the continuum intensity are derived from the filter and white light photographs of the solar corona obtained during the 1980 total solar eclipse. Ratio of the line to continuum intensity is plotted against the radial distancer(=R/R₀,R ₀ is the solar radius), in various position angles. A simple model assuming an electron density dependence of the line and continuum intensities suggests a dominant collisional mechanism for the excitation of the line in the innermost regions (～ 1.4R ₀). The measured line to continuum ratio tends to a constant value at different radial distances in different position angles. The constancy of the measured line to continuum ratio indicates significant radiative excitation beyond 1.4 R₀, in some of the position angles.     

Model development of supersonic trough wind with shocks

The time dependent one dimensional hydrodynamic equations describe the evolution of the thermal plasma flow along closed magnetic field lines outside of the plasmasphere. The convection of the supersonic polar wind onto a closed field line results in the assumed formation of collisionless plasma shocks. These shocks move earthward as the field line with its ‘frozen-in’ plasma remains fixed or contracts with time to smaller L coordinates. The high equatorial plasma temperature (of the order of electron volts) produced by the shock process decreases with time if the flow is isothermal but it will increase if the contraction is under adiabatic conditions. Assuming adiabaticity a peak in the temperature forms at the equator in conjunction with a depression in the ion density. After an initial contraction, if the flux tube drifts to higher L coordinates the direction of the shock motion can be reversed so that the supersonic region will expand along the field line towards the state characterizing the supersonic polar wind. A rapid expansion will lower the equatorial density while the temperature decreases with time under adiabatic but not isothermal conditions.     

Observations of forced oscillations of the magnetosphere by a geostationary satellite and an extensive ground magnetometer array

We present results from the analysis of magnetometer measurements of one of the clearest observations of a double resonance Pc4 pulsation to date. The Pc4, with a period of 55 s, was measured by 18 ground magnetometers and also on board the ATS-6 satellite at geostationary orbit. Using a subsequent observation of a second harmonic guided poloidal mode pulsation at ATS-6, we have been able to estimate the plasma density at geostationary orbit. We then calculated periods of theoretical cavity mode resonances in the plasmatrough and the eigenperiods of different wave modes and harmonics at geostationary orbit. We developed a model of the variation of plasma density, and hence eigenperiods, within the magnetosphere which is consistent with these calculations and with the amplitude, phase and ellipticity observations made over the array of ground observatories. In this model we suggest that hydromagnetic field line resonances occur in the plasmatrough and in the plasmasphcre, which are the second and fundamental harmonic guided toroidal mode resonances, respectively. The model also allows us to evaluate the damping experienced by hydromagnetic standing waves in the magnetosphere. The damping is found to be slightly higher than that previously suggested for daytime conditions.     

A Multispacecraft Analysis of a Small-Scale Transient Entrained by Solar Wind Streams

The images taken by the Heliospheric Imagers (HIs), part of the SECCHI imaging package onboard the pair of STEREO spacecraft, provide information on the radial and latitudinal evolution of the plasma compressed inside corotating interaction regions (CIRs). A plasma density wave imaged by the HI instrument onboard STEREO-B was found to propagate towards STEREO-A, enabling a comparison between simultaneous remote-sensing and in situ observations of its structure to be performed. In situ measurements made by STEREO-A show that the plasma density wave is associated with the passage of a CIR. The magnetic field compressed after the CIR stream interface (SI) is found to have a planar distribution. Minimum variance analysis of the magnetic field vectors shows that the SI is inclined at 54° to the orbital plane of the STEREO-A spacecraft. This inclination of the CIR SI is comparable to the inclination of the associated plasma density wave observed by HI. A small-scale magnetic cloud with a flux rope topology and radial extent of 0.08 AU is also embedded prior to the SI. The pitch-angle distribution of suprathermal electrons measured by the STEREO-A SWEA instrument shows that an open magnetic field topology in the cloud replaced the heliospheric current sheet locally. These observations confirm that HI observes CIRs in difference images when a small-scale transient is caught up in the compression region.     

Coincident observations of ionospheric troughs and the equatorial plasmapause

Explorer 45 traversed the plasmapause (determined approximately via the saturation of the d.c. electric field experiment) at near-equatorial latitudes on field lines which were crossed by Ariel 4 (~600km altitude) near dusk in May 1972 and on field lines which were crossed by Isis II (~1400km altitude) near midnight in December 1971 and January 1972. Many examples were found in which the field line through the near-equatorial plasmapause was traversed by Explorer 45 within one hour local time and one hour universal time of Ariel and Isis crossings of the same L coordinate. For the coincident passes near dusk, the RF electron density probe on Ariel detected electron density depletions near the plasmapause L coordinates when Ariel was in darkness. When the Ariel passes were in sunlight, however, electron depletions were not discernable near the plasmapause field line. On the selected near-midnight passes of Isis II, electron density depressions were typically detected (via the topside sounder) near the plasmapause L coordinate. The dusk Ariel electron density profiles are observed to reflect O⁺ density variations. Even at the high altitude of Isis near midnight, O⁺ is found to be the dominant ion in the trough region whereas H⁺ is dominant at lower latitudes as is evident from the measured electron density scale heights. In neither local time sector was it possible to single out a distinctive topside ionosphere feature as an indicator of the plasmapause field line as identified near the equator. At both local times the equator-determined plasmapause L coordinate showed a tendency to lay equatorward of the trough minimum.     

Measurements of the ambient photoelectron spectrum from atmosphere explorer: II. AE-E measurements from 300 to 1000 km during solar minimum conditions

The ambient photoelectron spectrum above 300 km has been measured for a sample of 500 AE-E orbits during the period 13 December 1975 to 24 February 1976 corresponding to solar minimum conditions. The 24 h average and maximum ΣK_p were 19 and 35, respectively. The photoelectron flux above 300 km was found to have an intensity and energy spectrum characteristic of the 250–300 km production region only when there was a low plasma density at the satellite altitude. Data taken at local times up to 3 h after sunrise were of this type and the escaping flux was observed to extend to altitudes above 900 km with very little modification, as predicted by several theoretical calculations. The flux at high altitudes was found to be extremely variable throughout the rest of the day, probably as a result of attenuation and energy loss to thermal plasma along the path of the escaping photoelectrons. This attenuation was most pronounced where the photoelectrons passed through regions of high plasma density associated with the equatorial anomaly. At altitudes of 600 km, the photoelectron fluxes ranged from severely attenuated to essentially unaltered—depending on the specific conditions, Photoelectron fluxes from conjugate regions were often less attenuated than those observed arriving from the high density regions immediately below. Comparison of the observed attenuations, photoelectron line broadening, and energy loss due to coulomb scattering from the thermal plasma with rough calculations based on stopping power and transmission coefficients of thermal plasma for fast electrons yielded order of magnitude agreement—satisfactory in view of the large number of assumptions necessary for the calculations. Overall, the impression of the high altitude photoelectron flux which emerges from this work is that the fluxes are extremely variable as a consequence of interactions with the thermal plasma whose density is in turn affected by electrodynamic and neutral wind processes in the underlying F region.     

Ionosphere-plasmasheet field-aligned currents and parallel electric fields

Two kinetic models for the auroral topside ionosphere are compared. The collisionless plasma distributed along an auroral magnetic field line behaves like a non-Ohmic conducting medium with highly non-linear characteristic curves relating the parallel current density to the potential difference between the cold ionosphere and the hot plasmasheet region. The (zero-electric current) potential difference, required to balance the current carried by the precipitating plasmasheet particles and the current transported by the outflowing ionospheric particles, depends on the ratio n_ps.e/n_th.e and T_ps.e/T_th.e of the plasmasheet and ionospheric electron densities and temperatures. When in the E-region the magnetic field lines are interconnected by a high conductivity plasma the resulting field-aligned currents driven by the magnetospheric potential distribution are limited by the integrated Pedersen conductivity of the ionospheric layers. These currents are not related to the parallel electric field intensity as they would be in Ohmic materials. The parallel electric field intensity is necessarily determined by the local quasi-neutrality of the plasma.     

The Solar Wind Energy Flux

The solar-wind energy flux measured near the Ecliptic is known to be independent of the solar-wind speed. Using plasma data from Helios, Ulysses, and Wind covering a large range of latitudes and time, we show that the solar-wind energy flux is independent of the solar-wind speed and latitude within 10?%, and that this quantity varies weakly over the solar cycle. In other words the energy flux appears as a global solar constant. We also show that the very high-speed solar wind (V _SW>700?km?s^?1) has the same mean energy flux as the slower wind (V _SW<700?km?s^?1), but with a different histogram. We use this result to deduce a relation between the solar-wind speed and density, which formalizes the anti-correlation between these quantities.     

Coronal ⋌5303 intensity,geomagnetic activity and solar sources of high-speed plasma streams

Investigations during the last 30 yr of the relationship between the green emission line corona and geomagnetism have yielded contradictory results. The papers on this subject can be separated into 2 groups; (a) papers reporting a negative correlation between green line intensity and geomagnetic activity, and (b) papers reporting a positive correlation. The negative correlation seems to be the one better supported by solar wind theory and observations. It implies that solar active regions are the base of low expansion speeds, whereas quasistationary high-speed solar plasma streams originate from regions of low density and open magnetic field structuresIn the present paper we have re-examined some of the analyses described in the group (b) papers. It is found that instead of indicating a positive correlation, these analyses in fact favour the negative correlation. Thus there does not appear to be any conflict at all between the different papers. The interpretation in favour of the positive correlation seems to be due to some accident of perspective having obscured the true connection     

Tracking Solar Active Region Outflow Plasma from Its Source to the Near-Earth Environment

Seeking to establish whether active-region upflow material contributes to the slow solar wind, we examine in detail the plasma upflows from Active Region (AR) 10978, which crossed the Sun’s disc in the interval 8 to 16 December 2007 during Carrington rotation (CR) 2064. In previous work, using data from the Hinode/EUV Imaging Spectrometer, upflow velocity evolution was extensively studied as the region crossed the disc, while a linear force-free-field magnetic extrapolation was used to confirm aspects of the velocity evolution and to establish the presence of quasi-separatrix layers at the upflow source areas. The plasma properties, temperature, density, and first ionisation potential bias [FIP-bias] were measured with the spectrometer during the disc passage of the active region. Global potential-field source-surface (PFSS) models showed that AR 10978 was completely covered by the closed field of a helmet streamer that is part of the streamer belt. Therefore it is not clear how any of the upflowing AR-associated plasma could reach the source surface at 2.5 R_⊙ and contribute to the slow solar wind. However, a detailed examination of solar-wind in-situ data obtained by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft at the L₁ point shows that increases in O⁷⁺/O⁶⁺, C⁶⁺/C⁵⁺, and Fe/O – a FIP-bias proxy – are present before the heliospheric current-sheet crossing. These increases, along with an accompanying reduction in proton velocity and an increase in density are characteristic of both AR and slow-solar-wind plasma. Finally, we describe a two-step reconnection process by which some of the upflowing plasma from the AR might reach the heliosphere.     

Analysis of the high resolution Mg xi X-ray spectra

In this paper, the second in a series dealing with high-resolution spectra (9.14–9.33 Å) measured on board the INTERCOSMOS-16 satellite, the analysis of the physical conditions in the coronal part of the McMath 14352 active region is performed. The temperature structure of the emitting plasma is investigated on the basis of the photon fluxes measured in six selected wavelength bands involving the resonance, intercombination, and forbidden lines of the Mg xi ion and a number of satellite lines. Relative line intensities are discussed in terms of the active region plasma density.     

EUV Analysis of a Quasi-static Coronal Loop Structure

Decaying active region 10942 is investigated from 4:00?–?16:00 UT on 24 February 2007 using a suite of EUV observing instruments. Results from Hinode/EIS, STEREO and TRACE show that, although the active region has decayed and no sunspot is present, the physical mechanisms that produce distinguishable loop structures, spectral line broadening, and plasma flows still occur. A coronal loop that appears as a blue-shifted structure in Doppler maps is apparent in intensity images of log(T)=6.0?–?6.3 ions. The loop structure is found to be anti-correlated with spectral line broadening generally attributed to non-thermal velocities. This coronal loop structure is investigated physically (temperature, density, geometry) and temporally. Light curves created from imaging instruments show brightening and dimming of the loop structure on two different time scales; short pulses of 10?–?20?min and long duration dimming of two?–?four hours until its disappearance. The coronal loop structure, formed from relatively blue-shifted material that is anti-correlated with spectral line broadening, shows a density of 10¹⁰ to 10^9.3?cm^?3 and is visible for longer than characteristic cooling times. The maximum non-thermal spectral line broadenings are found to be adjacent to the footpoint of the coronal loop structure.     

Computedn=2 level populations in helium-like ions from Cv to Nixxvii

The population densities of all levels with principal quantum numbern=2 in a number of helium-like ions with nuclear charge numberZ, in the range 6 to 28 have been evaluated as a function of various parameters, i.e., electron temperature,T _e, electron density,N _e, radiation temperature,T _r, dilution factor,W, and of the state of ionization. The spectral line fluxes from all possible radiative transitions from these levels have been calculated for an optically thin plasma. The effects of cascades following collisional excitation of higher levels or radiative and dielectronic recombination have been computed in detail. Innershell ionization of the lithium-like ion to form the helium-like ion in a 2³ S or 2¹ S state has been considered. It can have a strong influence on the forbidden line intensity in a non-equilibrium plasma. Collisional and radiative coupling of levels of the same multiplicity (e.g. 2³ S ₁ and 2³ P _2,1,0) have been considered as a function ofT _e, N_e orT _r, W, respectively. The computations were performed both for stationary and time-varying plasmas. In the latter case strong departures from a stationary ionization equilibrium can significantly alter the line fluxes. A few examples of the results are shown and discussed.     

Interpretation of OGO-5 line shape measurements of Lyman-α emission from terrestrial exospheric hydrogen

The velocity distribution of hydrogen atoms in the terrestrial exosphere was measured as a function of radial distance (up to 7 Earth radii, E_R) with the help of a Lyman-α hydrogen absorption cell, flown in 1968 on board the OGO-5 satellite. This paper contains the final analysis of the measurements. As a basis of comparison, the theory for the calculation of projected velocity distribution along a line of sight is established for the theoretical exospheric model of Chamberlain (1963). Self-absorption of Lyman-α photons along a line of sight is included to derive Lyman-α line profiles emerging from the geocorona. The effect of the hydrogen absorption cell, measured by the reduction factor R(p) is predicted as a function of impact parameter p of the line of sight, for various values of the parameters of a Chamberlain's model, n_c (density of exobase level), T_c (temperature at the exobase level), and r_cs (satellite critical radius). This predicted reduction factor R(p) is compared to the measured R_m(p), with the following findings: the Ly-α line width decreases with radial distance, as expected from the “evaporation and escape” theory of Chamberlain; the measured temperature T_c = 1080 K is in very good agreement with the exospheric temperature prediction from satellite drag data. An upper limit of 8 × 10⁴at. cm^?3 is imposed on n_c, regardless of photometric absolute calibration. A good fit to data requires the presence of atoms in satellite orbits, distributed in a different fashion than that described by the concept of satellite critical radius. Lyman-alpha radiation pressure is thought to be the cause of this departure from the exospheric theory of Chamberlain (1963), otherwise perfectly confirmed.The same scientific rationale will be applied to exospheric hydrogen of the planets Mars and Venus in subsequent papers.     

Investigation of shock waves and tangential discontinuities of the cosmic plasma by the radio interference technique

The possibility of investigation of the cosmic plasma dynamics by the radio interference technique based on a finite time of radio wave propagation between the sounding and responding stations is shown. By locating the sounding station on a spacecraft the greatest contribution to the phase difference ΔΦ(t)or the phase difference growth rate $\text{Δ?}$ between the sounding and response signals are caused by disturbances in close proximity to the spacecraft. This method permits interplanetary shock waves and tangential discontinuities to be registered and the velocities and plasma density changes on their fronts to be determined. By using experimental data of ΔΦ(t) or $\text{Δ?(t)}$ one can also obtain information about plasma concentration jump, location and motion of bow shock wave and magnetopause and plasmapause. Available experimental data about different disturbances of cosmic plasma were analysed and the requirements on frequency stability of spacecraft-borne and groundbased radio equipment were estimated to register those disturbances. In most cases relative stability 10^?11–10^?13 provided by present atomic frequency standards is sufficient.     

Spaceborne ultraviolet 251–384 nm spectroscopy of a meteor during the 1997 Leonid shower

Abstract— We used the ultraviolet to visible spectrometers onboard the midcourse space experiment to obtain the first ultraviolet spectral measurements of a bright meteor during the 1997 Leonid shower. The meteor was most likely a Leonid with a brightness of about‐2 magnitude at 100 km altitude. In the region between 251 and 310 nm, the two strongest emission lines are from neutral and ionized magnesium. Ionized Ca lines, indicative of a hot T ? 10 000 K plasma, are not detected. The Mg and Mg+ line intensity ratio alone does not yield the ionization temperature, which can be determined only by assuming the electron density. A typical air plasma temperature of T = 4400 K would imply a very high electron density: n_e = 2.2 times 10¹⁸ m‐³, but at chondritic abundances of Fe/Mg and Si/Mg ? 1. For a more reasonable local‐thermodynamic‐equilibrium (LTE) air plasma electron density, the Mg and Mg+ line ratio implies a less than chondritic Fe/Mg = 0.06 abundance ratio and a cool non‐LTE T = 2830 K ionization temperature for the ablation vapor plasma. The present observations do not permit a choice between these alternatives. The new data provide also the first spectral confirmation of the presence of molecular OH and NO emission in meteor spectra.     

On the Possibility to Diagnose the Non-Maxwellian ��-Distributions from the Hinode/EIS EUV Spectra

We investigate the possibility to diagnose the ??-distributions from the EUV spectra observed by the Hinode/EIS spectrometer. Observable lines of the most abundant elements except Fe are considered. Synthetic spectra for the ??-distributions with ??=2??C?10 and the Maxwellian distribution were calculated for a range of temperatures and electron densities. We find that only a small number of O, S, Ca, and Ni line ratios are sensitive to???. A?list of the best diagnostic options using transition region and coronal lines is provided. Usually, the line ratios sensitive to ?? are also sensitive to electron density. Weak O?iv lines are a notable exception. These lines offer greatest sensitivity to ?? from all the lines observed by Hinode/EIS. Density diagnostics using lines of the non-Fe elements is discussed and the influence of ?? on the diagnostics of electron density is presented. The density diagnostics using these non-Fe EIS lines are strongly affected by both known and unknown blends. Therefore, we performed the density diagnostics using the Fe?xii??C?xiv lines. Subsequently, these proposed diagnostic methods for ??-distributions are tested using the spectral atlas obtained by Brown et?al. (Astrophys. J. Suppl. 176, 511, 2008). These data do not provide conclusive evidence for the presence of ??-distributions due to possible plasma multitermality, a low observed signal-to-noise ratio, and unremovable or unknown blends.     

The cosmogonic shadow effect

We consider the Alfvén-Arrhenius fall-down mechanism and describe an approximate model for the infall, capture and distribution of dust particles on a given magnetic field line and their possible neutralization at the ‘2’/3 points, the points at which the field aligned compnents of the gravitational and centrifugal forces are equal and opposite. We find that a small fraction (<10%) of an incoming particle distribution will actually contribute to the above ‘2’/3 fall-down process. We also show that if at the 2/3 points, the ratio of dust to plasma density is $$\frac{{n_D \left( {\tfrac{2}{3}} \right)}}{{n_p \left( {\tfrac{2}{3}} \right)}} > \frac{{10^{ - 3} }}{{r_{g_\mu } T_{eV} }}$$ . (r _gμ=radius of a grain in microns,T=plasma temperature in eV), then the dust particles will lose their charge, decouple from the field line and follow Keplerian orbits in accordance with the Alfvén-Arrhenius mechanism. We then determine the limits on the plasma parameters in order that rotation of a quasi-neutral plasma in thermal equilibrium be possible in the gravitational and dipole field of a rotating central body. The constraints imposed by the above conditions are rather weak, and the plasma parameters can have a wide range of values. For a plasma corotating with an angular velocity Ω～10^?4s^?1, we show that the plasma temperature and density must satisfy $$10^{ - 1}<< T_{(eV)}<< 10^2 ,10T_{eV}^2<< n^p \left( {cm^3 } \right)<< 10^6 $$ .