Article (Scientific journals)
Observation of the proton aurora with IMAGE FUV imager and simultaneous ion flux in situ measurements
Gérard, Jean-Claude; Hubert, Benoît; Meurant, M. et al.
2001In Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, 106 (A12), p. 28939-28948
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Keywords :
IMAGE; Aurora; Lyman-alpha; doppler shift; FAST satellite; DMSP satellite; ultraviolet
Abstract :
[en] The far ultraviolet cameras on board the IMAGE satellite images the aurora in three different spectral regions. One of the channels of the spectrographic imager SI12 observes the Doppler-shifted Lyman alpha emission of precipitating protons. It makes it possible to spectrally discriminate between the proton and electron FUV aurora and to globally map the energetic protons. Its response depends on the auroral Lyman alpha. line shape which reflects the characteristics of the proton pitch angle and energy distributions. We illustrate the dependence of the SI12 count rate on the characteristic energy of the proton precipitation and the viewing geometry. Simultaneous in situ observations of the precipitated protons have been collected during a FAST satellite pass when IMAGE was observing the global north polar region. The premidnight region located at the equatorward boundary of the oval is dominated by proton precipitation with a mean energy E = 7 keV which is separated from the electron component. The prenoon crossing exhibits a softer proton energy spectrum with E = 0.9 keV. The measured proton energy distribution is used as an input to a Monte Carlo model to calculate the expected SI12 signal along the magnetic footprint of the satellite orbit. If the different spatial resolution of the two types of measurements is accounted for, a good quantitative agreement is found with the IMAGE observations. Similarly, ion flux measurements collected on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F15 satellite during an overflight in the postmidnight sector provide good agreement with the SI12 observations at the footprint aurora. The comparisons confirm the reliability of the FUV IMAGE cameras to remotely discriminate between the electron and the proton precipitations. The vertical emission rate profiles of the N-2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield and O I (1356 Angstrom) emissions are calculated in the proton-dominated premidnight region. It is shown that the protons and the electrons produce FUV emissions with contributions peaking at different altitudes. Excitation by secondary electrons dominates the production of both emissions.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Gérard, Jean-Claude  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys.
Hubert, Benoît  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Meurant, M.
Shematovich, V. I.
Bisikalo, D. V.
Frey, H.
Mende, S.
Gladstone, G. R.
Carlson, C. W.
Language :
English
Title :
Observation of the proton aurora with IMAGE FUV imager and simultaneous ion flux in situ measurements
Publication date :
01 December 2001
Journal title :
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
ISSN :
2169-9380
eISSN :
2169-9402
Publisher :
Amer Geophysical Union, Washington, United States
Volume :
106
Issue :
A12
Pages :
28939-28948
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 17 December 2008

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