Parallel electric fields in the upward current region of the aurora: Indirect and direct observations

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 3685-3694 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
L. Andersson ◽  
D. S. Main ◽  
Y.-J. Su ◽  
C. W. Carlson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Upward Current

Parallel electric fields in the upward current region of the aurora: Numerical solutions

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 3695-3704 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
L. Andersson ◽  
D. Main ◽  
Y.-J. Su ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Upward Current

scholarly journals Response to “Comment on ‘Parallel electric fields in the upward current region of the aurora: Numerical solutions’ ” [Phys. Plasmas10, 1175 (2003)]

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1177-1179
Author(s):  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
L. Andersson ◽  
D. Main ◽  
Y.-J. Su ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Upward Current

scholarly journals Double layers in the downward current region of the aurora

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
L. Andersson ◽  
C. W. Carlson ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
M. V. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electron Beam ◽  
Phase Space ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Double Layers ◽  
Parallel Electric Field ◽  
Electrostatic Waves ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Decisive Evidence

Abstract. Direct observations of magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) electric fields in the downward current region of the aurora provide decisive evidence of naturally occurring double layers. We report measurements of parallel electric fields, electron fluxes and ion fluxes related to double layers that are responsible for particle acceleration. The observations suggest that parallel electric fields organize into a structure of three distinct, narrowly-confined regions along the magnetic field (B). In the "ramp" region, the measured parallel electric field forms a nearly-monotonic potential ramp that is localized to ~ 10 Debye lengths along B. The ramp is moving parallel to B at the ion acoustic speed (vs) and in the same direction as the accelerated electrons. On the high-potential side of the ramp, in the "beam" region, an unstable electron beam is seen for roughly another 10 Debye lengths along B. The electron beam is rapidly stabilized by intense electrostatic waves and nonlinear structures interpreted as electron phase-space holes. The "wave" region is physically separated from the ramp by the beam region. Numerical simulations reproduce a similar ramp structure, beam region, electrostatic turbulence region and plasma characteristics as seen in the observations. These results suggest that large double layers can account for the parallel electric field in the downward current region and that intense electrostatic turbulence rapidly stabilizes the accelerated electron distributions. These results also demonstrate that parallel electric fields are directly associated with the generation of large-amplitude electron phase-space holes and plasma waves.

Conditions for establishing quasistable double layers in the Earth’s auroral upward current region

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 122901 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Main ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
R. E. Ergun
Keyword(s):  
Double Layers ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Upward Current

Ion acoustic solitons in Earth’s upward current region

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 072905 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Main ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
C. Scholz ◽  
R. E. Ergun
Keyword(s):  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
Ion Acoustic Solitons ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Upward Current
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