Journal article
Electron velocity distributions and plasma waves associated with the injection of an electron beam into the ionosphere
Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol.94(A6), pp.6995-7001
06/01/1989
DOI: 10.1029/JA094iA06p06995
Abstract
An electron beam was injected into earth's ionosphere on August 1, 1985, during the flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger as part of the objectives of the Spacelab 2 mission. In the wake of the Space Shuttle a magnetically aligned sheet of electrons returning from the direction of propagation of the beam was detected with the free-flying Plasma Diagnostics Package. The thickness of this sheet of returning electrons was about 20 m. Large intensifications of broadband electrostatic noise were also observed within this sheet of electrons. A numerical simulation of the interaction of the electron beam with the ambient ionospheric plasmas is employed to show that the electron beam excites electron plasma oscillations and that it is possible for the ion acoustic instability to provide a returning flux of hot electrons by means of quasi-linear diffusion.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Electron velocity distributions and plasma waves associated with the injection of an electron beam into the ionosphere
- Creators
- L. A. Frank - Iowa UnivW. R. Paterson - Iowa UnivW. S. Kurth - Iowa, UniversityM. Ashour-Abdalla - California, UniversityD. Schriver - University of California, Los Angeles
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol.94(A6), pp.6995-7001
- DOI
- 10.1029/JA094iA06p06995
- ISSN
- 0148-0227
- eISSN
- 2156-2202
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/1989
- Description audience
- PUBLIC
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455577002771
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