JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH Proton Precipitation and the Hβ Emission in a Postbreakup Auroral Glow

摘要

Measurements of the hydrogen auroral emissions have been made by rocket-borne photometers simultaneously with observations of the energy spectra and pitch angle distributions of the precipitating energetic particles. The rocket was flown through a postbreakup auroral glow known to be associated with proton precipitation on the basis of optical measurements from the ground. The observed H/3 profiles are compared with the profiles derived from the measured primary proton beam and obtained by using Eather's (1967) values for the pertinent excitation cross sections. Good agreement between measured and computed profiles is obtained.