Experimental Evidence for the Connection between the Geomagnetic and the Interplanetary Fields as Determined from Observations of Energetic Solar Particles,

摘要

Recent measurements of energetic solar particles have shown that a direct connection exists between the geomagnetic field and the interplanetary magnetic field. The access window for 300keV solar protons that reach the center of the polar cap may be as near as 150 R(e) in the downstream magnetotail;access windows of solar protons,which precipitate into the atmosphere at latitudes near the geomagnetic cutoff,may be as near as 30 R(e). Comparison of the patterns of auroral particle precipitation with the zones of access of energetic solar electrons and protons indicates that a substantial fraction of the aurora originates on field lines connected to the interplanetary field. (Author)