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CRRES: The combined release and radiation effects satellite program directoryAs a result of natural processes, plasma clouds are often injected into the magnetosphere. These chemical releases can be used to study many aspects of such injections. When a dense plasma is injected into the inner magnetosphere, it is expected to take up the motion of the ambient plasma. However, it has been observed in previous releases at moderate altitudes that the cloud preserved its momentum for some time following the release and that parts of the cloud peeled off from the main cloud presumable due to the action of an instability. As one moves outward into the magnetosphere, the mirror force becomes less dominant and the initial conditions following a release are dominated by the formation of a diamagnetic cavity since the initial plasma pressure from the injected Ba ions is greater than the magnetic field energy density. A previous high-altitude release (31,300 km) showed this to be the case initially, but at later times there was evidence for acceleration of the Ba plasma to velocities corresponding to 60,000 K. This effect is not explained. This series of experiments is therefore designed to inject plasma clouds into the magnetosphere under widely varying conditions of magnetic field strength and ambient plasma density. In this way the coupling of injected clouds to the ambient plasma and magnetic field, the formation of striations due to instabilities, and possible heating and acceleration of the injected Ba plasma can be studied over a wide range of magnetosphere parameters. Adding to the scientific yield will be the availability of measurements for the DOD/SPACERAD instruments which can monitor plasma parameters, electric and magnetic fields, and waves before, during and after the releases.
Document ID
19930006524
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Layman, Laura D. (Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Miller, George P. (Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 20, 1992
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.26:184504
NASA-CR-184504
Accession Number
93N15713
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-38609
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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