Electron Density and Temperature, as Measured by the Mutual Impedance Experiment on Board GEOS-1

Abstract

The mutual impedance experiment on GEOS-1 provides an original diagnostic of the thermal electron population. The electron density N _e , and temperature T _e , are derived from the plasma frequency and Debye length, the values of which determine the shape of the frequency dependent mutual impedance curves. The existing limits of the method are pointed out. They may be instrumental or arise from a lack of theoretical development, for instance when the steady magnetic field or the drift velocity of the plasma cannot be neglected. Nevertheless, first geophysical results have been derived, using measurements obtained on the dayside of the equatorial magnetosphere where most of the data enter within the above limits. In particular, we have drawn a map of the dayside magnetosphere, in terms of densities, Debye lengths, temperatures, at geocentric distances of 4 to 7 Earth radii. The conventional shape of the plasmasphere is recognized, but the temperatures obtained are lower than expected (~2 eV at apogee, outside the plasmasphere). The influence of the magnetic activity on apogee measurements is reported: N _e values and A _m indices are shown to be correlated, but it is not the case for T _e and A _m . Finally, detailed T _e and N _e profiles are shown, and the presence of a plasmapause boundary is discussed.