<p>This thesis deals with energetic oxygen ions (i.e. single-charged atomic oxygen ions, O+) at altitudes higher than 5 Earth radii (RE) and at latitudes above 75 (toward 90) degrees invariant latitude (deg ILAT) in the dayside polar magnetosphere observed by Cluster. The instrument used in this study is CIS (Cluster Ion Spectrometry experiment) / CODIF (a time-of-flight ion COmposition and DIstribution Function analyser), which covers an energy range from »10 eV up to 38 keV. Cluster detected O+ with energies more than 1 keV (hereafter termed “keV O+”), indicating that energization and/or acceleration process(es) take place in the dayside high-altitude (inside magnetopause) and high-latitude region. These O+ are outflowing (precisely, upward-going along the geomagnetic field lines), and these outflowing keV O+ show a heated (or energized) signature in the velocity distribution as well.</p><p>First, outflowing O+ are observed at the poleward cusp and/or the mantle formed a partial shell-like configuration seen in the velocity distribution. Second, the latitudinal distribution of outflowing O+ (most of them have energies less than 1 keV statistically) observed below 7 RE is consistent with velocity filter effect by the polar convection, while the latitudinal distribution of outflowing keV O+ observed above 7 RE cannot be explained by velocity filter effect only, i.e. this indicates that additional energization and/or acceleration takes place at higher altitudes in the dayside polar region. Thirdly, a tendency to observe outflowing keV O+ for during different geomagnetic conditions is studied. The keV O+ above 9 RE is more often for K p¸5 rather than for K p•3. However the energy of O+ is not dependent on ASY /SYM indices.</p><p>Finally, the dependence on the solar wind conditions is also studied. The energization and/or acceleration of outflowing O+ is controlled by both solar wind moments (except solar wind electric field) and strong southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) at the time scale of tens of minutes at only higher altitudes. Further examination shows that solar wind dependence is different at three regions: one is the poleward cusp, another is the low-altitude polar cap, and finally the high-altitude polar cap, combining all the results. There is (a) new energization and/or acceleration process(es) at the high-altitude polar cap. On the other hand, flux enhancement of O+ observed above 5 RE is also controlled by solar wind moments (e.g. solar wind electric field) and strong southward IMF, however the ionospheric changes play a more important role on the flux enhancement of O+.</p>

Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

No description available.

This thesis deals with energetic oxygen ions (i.e. single-charged atomic oxygen ions, O+) at altitudes higher than 5 Earth radii (RE) and at latitudes above 75 (toward 90) degrees invariant latitude (deg ILAT) in the dayside polar magnetosphere observed by Cluster. The instrument used in this study is CIS (Cluster Ion Spectrometry experiment) / CODIF (a time-of-flight ion COmposition and DIstribution Function analyser), which covers an energy range from »10 eV up to 38 keV. Cluster detected O+ with energies more than 1 keV (hereafter termed “keV O+”), indicating that energization and/or acceleration process(es) take place in the dayside high-altitude (inside magnetopause) and high-latitude region. These O+ are outflowing (precisely, upward-going along the geomagnetic field lines), and these outflowing keV O+ show a heated (or energized) signature in the velocity distribution as well. First, outflowing O+ are observed at the poleward cusp and/or the mantle formed a partial shell-like configuration seen in the velocity distribution. Second, the latitudinal distribution of outflowing O+ (most of them have energies less than 1 keV statistically) observed below 7 RE is consistent with velocity filter effect by the polar convection, while the latitudinal distribution of outflowing keV O+ observed above 7 RE cannot be explained by velocity filter effect only, i.e. this indicates that additional energization and/or acceleration takes place at higher altitudes in the dayside polar region. Thirdly, a tendency to observe outflowing keV O+ for during different geomagnetic conditions is studied. The keV O+ above 9 RE is more often for K p¸5 rather than for K p•3. However the energy of O+ is not dependent on ASY /SYM indices. Finally, the dependence on the solar wind conditions is also studied. The energization and/or acceleration of outflowing O+ is controlled by both solar wind moments (except solar wind electric field) and strong southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) at the time scale of tens of minutes at only higher altitudes. Further examination shows that solar wind dependence is different at three regions: one is the poleward cusp, another is the low-altitude polar cap, and finally the high-altitude polar cap, combining all the results. There is (a) new energization and/or acceleration process(es) at the high-altitude polar cap. On the other hand, flux enhancement of O+ observed above 5 RE is also controlled by solar wind moments (e.g. solar wind electric field) and strong southward IMF, however the ionospheric changes play a more important role on the flux enhancement of O+.

The Neutral Particle Detector (NPD) is a new type of instrumentation for energetic neutral atom (ENA) diagnostics. This thesis deals with development of the NPD sensor designed as a part of the plasma and neutral particle packages ASPERA-3 and ASPERA-4 on board Mars Express and Venus Express, the European Space Agency (ESA) satellites to Mars and Venus, respectively. It describes how the NPD sensors were designed, developed, tested and calibrated. It also presents the first scientific results obtained with NPD during its operation at Mars. The NPD package consists of two identical detectors, NPD1 and NPD2. Each detector has a 9o x 90o intrinsic field-of-view divided into three sectors. The ENA detection principle is based on the surface interaction technique. NPD detects ENA differential fluxes within the energy range of 100 eV to 10 keV and is capable of resolving hydrogen and oxygen atoms by time-of-flight (TOF) measurements or pulse height analysis. During the calibration process the detailed response of the sensor was defined, including properties such as an angular response function and energy dependent efficiency of each of the sensor sectors for different ENA species. Based on the NPD measurements at Mars the main scientific results reported so far are: - observation of the Martian H-ENA jet / cone and its dynamics, - observations of ENA emissions from the Martian upper atmosphere, - measurements of the hydrogen exosphere density profile at Mars, - observations of the response of the Martian plasma environment to an interplanetary shock, - observations of the H-ENA fluxes in the interplanetary medium.

The Sun’s corona expands outward, populating the solar system with plasma. This plasma is known as the solar wind. The solar wind carries with it the Sun’s magnetic field, which is also known as the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The resulting configuration of the IMF creates a current sheet at solar equatorial latitudes, which the Earth crosses as it orbits the Sun. When the Earth is on one side of the current sheet it is in a sector where the IMF is directed largely away from or toward the Sun. On the other side of the current sheet the IMF is in opposite direction. The crossing of the current sheet is known as a sector boundary crossing (SBC). The solar wind and IMF properties change significantly near the current sheet, and this affects the Earth’s ionosphere. The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) high frequency (HF) radar data rates from 2001-2011 were examined using several techniques: a superposed epoch analysis, a fast fourier transform (FFT) analysis, and a cross–correlation analysis. Data from multiple instruments were analyzed in this study. These include the solar wind and IMF data from spacecraft, observations of charged particles precipitating into the Earth’s ionosphere, echoes from ground–based SuperDARN radars, and data from gound–based neutron monitors that detect galactic cosmic rays. Solar wind and IMF properties change significantly across a sector boundary. An increase in the IMF magnitude of about 30% occurs on the day of the SBC, and the IMF returns to pre–crossing values over the next two days. There is a decrease in the solar wind speed of about 15% the day before and the day of the SBC, and the solar wind density doubles at the time of the SBC. The polarity of the SBC does not appear to affect the solar wind and IMF. A peak in the data rate of SuperDARN echoes from both the ionosphere and ground occurs within one day of the SBC, though the variability of these data is quite large. The hemispherical power, which is an estimation of the electron energy flux precipitating into the ionosphere derived from satellite observations, increases following a SBC. Satellite particle data also revealed that the equatorward auroral oval boundary moves equatorward following a SBC. The cosmic ray counts at the Earth’s surface appear to be unaffected by the SBC. The solar wind and ionosphere data sets exhibited strong periodicities, and these were harmonics of the synodic rotational period of the Sun (approximately 27 days). Common periodicities observed were 27 days, 13.5 days, 9 days, 6.75 days and 5.4 days. There was a dominant 9–day periodicity observed in the solar wind and ionospheric data from 2005–2008, but was not observed in the solar 10.7 cm wavelength electromagnetic flux. The 9-day periodicity in the solar wind during this period has been linked to three persistent features on the Sun that produced corotating high–speed streams, or areas of fast solar wind. The parameters whose change did not depend on the polarity of the SBC had periodicities that were half that of the SBCs. From the cross–correlation analysis some relationships between the data sets became evident. For periods of high solar wind speed there were low SuperDARN data rates, and vice versa. The solar wind speed and hemispherical power were found to be well correlated, while the hemispherical power and the SuperDARN scatter occurrence were found to be anticorrelated. The solar wind changes appear to be affecting the state of the ionosphere, likely through particle precipitation. The SuperDARN scatter occurrence has been shown in past studies to be most greatly affected by changes in the electron density profile of the ionosphere, which can be influenced by changes in particle precipitation. These results demonstrate a link between the solar wind and the state of the ionosphere.

No description available.

A three-dimensional (3D) steady-state electron modulation model based on Parker (1965) transport equation is applied to study the modelling of – 7 MeV galactic and Jovian electrons in the inner heliosphere. The latter is produced within Jupiter's magnetosphere which is situated at - 5 AU in the ecliptic plane. The heliospheric propagation of these particles is mainly described by the heliospheric diffusion tensor. Some elements of the tensor, such as the diffusion coefficient in the azimuthal direction, which were neglected in the previous two-dimensional modulation studies are investigated to account for the three-dimensional transport of Jovian electrons. Different anisotropic solar wind speed profiles that could represent solar minimum conditions were modelled and their effects were illustrated by computing the distribution of 7 MeV Jovian electrons in the equatorial regions. In particular, the electron intensity time-profile along the Ulysses spacecraft trajectory was calculated for these speed profiles and compared to the 3-10 MeV electron flux observed by the Kiel Electron Telescope (KET) on board the Ulysses spacecraft from launch (1990) up to end of its first out-of-ecliptic orbit (2000). It was found that the model solution computed with the solar wind profile previously assumed for typical solar minimum conditions produced good compatibility with observations up to 1998. After 1998 all model solutions deviated completely from the observations. In this study, as a further attempt to model KET observations more realistically, a new relation is established between the latitudinal dependence of the solar wind speed and the perpendicular polar diffusion. Based on this relation, a transition of an average solar wind speed from solar minimum conditions to intermediate solar activity and to solar maximum conditions was modelled based on the assumption of the time-evolution of large polar coronal holes and were correlated to different scenarios of the enhancement of perpendicular polar diffusion. Effects of these scenarios were illustrated, as a series of steady-state solutions, on the computed 7 MeV Jovian and galactic electrons in comparison with the 3-10 MeV electron observed by the KET instrument from the period 1998 up to the end of 2003. Subsequent effects of these scenarios were also shown on electron modulation in general. It was found that this approach improved modelling of the post-1998 discrepancy between the model and KET observations but it also suggested the need for a time-dependent 3D electron modulation model to describe modulation during moderate to extreme solar maximum conditions. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

A two dimensional hydrodynamic model describing the solar wind interaction with the local interstellar medium, which surrounds the solar system, is used to study the heliosphere both as a steady-state- and dynamic structure. The finite volume method used to solve the associated system of hydrodynamic equations numerically is discussed in detail. Subsequently the steady state heliosphere is studied for both the case where the solar wind and the interstellar medium are assumed to consist of protons only, as well as the case where the neutral hydrogen population in the interstellar medium is taken into account. It is shown that the heliosphere forms as three waves, propagating away from the initial point of contact between the solar wind and interstellar matter, become stationary. Two of these waves become stationary at sonic points, forming the termination shock and bow shock respectively. The third wave becomes stationary as a contact discontinuity, called the heliopause. It is shown that the position and geometry of the termination shock, heliopause and bow shock as well as the plasma flow characteristics of the heliosphere largely depend on the dynamic pressure of either the solar wind or interstellar matter. The heliosphere is modelled as a dynamic structure, including both the effects of the solar cycle and short term variations in the solar wind observed by a range of spacecraft over the past ~ 30 years. The dynamic model allows the calculation of an accurate record of the heliosphere state over the past ~ 30 years. This record is used to predict the time at which the Voyager 2 spacecraft will cross the termination shock. Voyager 1 observations of 10 MeV cosmic ray electrons are then used in conjunction with a cosmic ray modulation model to constrain the record of the heliosphere further. It is shown that the dynamic hydrodynamic model describes the heliosphere accurately within a margin of error of ±0.7 years and ±3 AU. The model predicts that Voyager 2 crossed the termination shock in 2007, corresponding to preliminary results from observations indicating that the crossing occurred in August 2007. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

A three-dimensional (3D) steady-state electron modulation model based on Parker (1965) transport equation is applied to study the modelling of – 7 MeV galactic and Jovian electrons in the inner heliosphere. The latter is produced within Jupiter's magnetosphere which is situated at - 5 AU in the ecliptic plane. The heliospheric propagation of these particles is mainly described by the heliospheric diffusion tensor. Some elements of the tensor, such as the diffusion coefficient in the azimuthal direction, which were neglected in the previous two-dimensional modulation studies are investigated to account for the three-dimensional transport of Jovian electrons. Different anisotropic solar wind speed profiles that could represent solar minimum conditions were modelled and their effects were illustrated by computing the distribution of 7 MeV Jovian electrons in the equatorial regions. In particular, the electron intensity time-profile along the Ulysses spacecraft trajectory was calculated for these speed profiles and compared to the 3-10 MeV electron flux observed by the Kiel Electron Telescope (KET) on board the Ulysses spacecraft from launch (1990) up to end of its first out-of-ecliptic orbit (2000). It was found that the model solution computed with the solar wind profile previously assumed for typical solar minimum conditions produced good compatibility with observations up to 1998. After 1998 all model solutions deviated completely from the observations. In this study, as a further attempt to model KET observations more realistically, a new relation is established between the latitudinal dependence of the solar wind speed and the perpendicular polar diffusion. Based on this relation, a transition of an average solar wind speed from solar minimum conditions to intermediate solar activity and to solar maximum conditions was modelled based on the assumption of the time-evolution of large polar coronal holes and were correlated to different scenarios of the enhancement of perpendicular polar diffusion. Effects of these scenarios were illustrated, as a series of steady-state solutions, on the computed 7 MeV Jovian and galactic electrons in comparison with the 3-10 MeV electron observed by the KET instrument from the period 1998 up to the end of 2003. Subsequent effects of these scenarios were also shown on electron modulation in general. It was found that this approach improved modelling of the post-1998 discrepancy between the model and KET observations but it also suggested the need for a time-dependent 3D electron modulation model to describe modulation during moderate to extreme solar maximum conditions. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.