DIRECT OBSERVATIONS OF LOW-ENERGY ELECTRONS IN THE DISTURBED IONOSPHERIC E-REGION

• Main Authors: Heikkila,W. J., Matthews,D. L.
• Other Authors: DEFENCE RESEARCH TELECOMMUNICATIONS ESTABLISHMENT OTTAWA (ONTARIO)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1964
• Subjects: *ELECTRON DENSITY; *IONOSPHERE; MEASUREMENT; ELECTRONS; ENERGY; EXTRATERRESTRIAL RADIO WAVES; UNITED KINGDOM; MAGNETIC FIELDS; ABSORPTION; MANITOBA; ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING; SOUNDING ROCKETS; ELECTRON MULTIPLIERS; TEST METHODS; PHOTOELECTRONS; SPECTRUM ANALYZERS; SECONDARY EMISSION; BLACK BRANT; E REGION; Brant; Canada; Churchill
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0454956; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0454956

Differential spectra of electrons 20-3,000 eV in energy have been directly measured in the ionosphere for the first time. The spectrometer used an open electron multiplier as its detector, counting individual electrons. It was carried in Black Brant II rockets launched in 1963 at Churchill, Manitoba, in the presence of so-called auroral absorption (of very-high-frequency cosmic radio noise). Electrons of energy < 100 keV, precipitated into the ionosphere by processes not understood but closely related to magnetic activity, are considered to be the main cause of these events. In order to provide a more complete spectrum, measurements of electrons above 10 keV were made aboard the same rockets by instruments from the National Research Council of Canada. In addition, experiments measuring electron density and radio-wave propagation effects were carried out, the results from which will be discussed in future publications. (Author)