Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of High-Latitude Outflow for Ions and Neutrals

University of Utah

The outflow of ions at high latitudes is one mechanism thought to populate the magnetosphere with ionospheric ions [H+, He+, O+]. Computer modeling can give an insight into the mechanisms and rates at which these ions can populate the magnetosphere, but for atomic oxygen the temperature is about 40% lower than measurement. This can be accounted for by the inclusion of a hot O population at a higher temperature, of about 4000K.