Publication Date:
2019-07-17
Description:
Using observations of the electron density, n(sub e), based on measurement of the upper hybrid resonance frequency by the Polar spacecraft Plasma Wave Instrument, we have examined the radial density dependence along field lines in the outer plasmasphere and the near plasmatrough. Sampled L values range from 2.5 to 6.6. Our technique depends on the fact that Polar crosses particular L values at two different points with different radial distance R. In our plasmaspheric data set (n(sub e) 〉 100/cm3), we find that on average n(sub e) is flat along field lines from the equator up to the latitudes sampled by Polar (R approximately equal to or 〉 2.0). In the plasmatrough data set (n(sub e) 〈 100/cm-3), there is on average a mild radial dependence n(sub e) varies as R(exp -1.7).
Keywords:
Plasma Physics
Format:
text
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