Low-energy neutral atoms in the Earth's magnetosphere: modeling

Kurt R. Moore, David J. McComas, Herbert O. Funsten, Michelle F. Thomsen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Detection of low energy neutral atoms (LENAs) produced by the interaction of the Earth's geocorona with ambient space plasma has been proposed as a technique to obtain global information about the magnetosphere. Recent instrumentation advances reported previously and in these proceedings (McComas, et al., Funsten, et al.) provide an opportunity for detecting LENAs in the energy range of < 1 keV to approximately 50 keV. In this paper, we present results from a numerical model which calculates line of sight LENA fluxes expected at a remote orbiting spacecraft for various magnetospheric plasma regimes. This model uses measured charge exchange cross sections, either of two neutral hydrogen geocorona models, and various empirical models of the ring current and plasma sheet to calculate the contribution to the integrated directional flux from each point along the line of sight of the instrument. We discuss implications for LENA imaging of the magnetosphere based on these simulations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
PublisherPubl by Int Soc for Optical Engineering
Pages51-61
Number of pages11
ISBN (Print)0819409170
StatePublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes
EventInstrumentation for Magnetospheric Imagery - San Diego, CA, USA
Duration: Jul 19 1992Jul 19 1992

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume1744
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceInstrumentation for Magnetospheric Imagery
CitySan Diego, CA, USA
Period7/19/927/19/92

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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