The Non-Linear Electrodynamic Coupling Between the Solar Wind, Magnetosphere and Ionosphere

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dc.contributor.authorWilder, Frederick Duranden
dc.contributor.committeechairClauer, C. Roberten
dc.contributor.committeememberScales, Wayne A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRuohoniemi, J. Michaelen
dc.contributor.committeememberBaker, Joseph B. H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPratt, Timothy J.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSimonetti, John H.en
dc.contributor.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:08:45Zen
dc.date.adate2011-05-05en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:08:45Zen
dc.date.issued2011-03-29en
dc.date.rdate2011-05-05en
dc.date.sdate2011-04-01en
dc.description.abstractThe polar electric potential imposed on the ionosphere by coupling between the earth's magnetosphere and the solar wind has been shown to have a non-linear response to the interplanetary electric field (IEF). This dissertation presents an empirical study of this polar cap potential saturation phenomenon. First, the saturation of the reverse convection potential under northward is demonstrated using bin-averaged SuperDARN data. Then, the saturation reverse convection potential is shown to saturate at a higher value at higher solar wind plasma beta. The reverse convection flow velocity is then compared with cross-polar cap flows under southward IMF under summer, winter and equinox conditions. It is demonstrated that the reverse convection flow exhibits the opposite seasonal behavior to cross polar cap flow under southward IMF. Then, an interhemispheric case study is performed to provide an explanation for the seasonal behavior of the reverse convection potential. It is found using DMSP particle precipitation data that the reverse convection cells in the winter circulate at least partially on closed field lines. Finally, SuperDARN and DMSP data are merged to provide polar cap potential measurements for a statistical study of polar cap potential saturation under southward IMF. It is found that the extent of polar cap potential saturation increases with increasing Alfvenic Mach number, and has no significant relation to Alfven wing transmission coefficient or solar wind dynamic pressure.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-04012011-110034en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04012011-110034/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/26586en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartWilder_FD_D_2011.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectSolar Winden
dc.subjectIonosphereen
dc.subjectMagnetosphereen
dc.subjectElectromagneticsen
dc.subjectPlasma Physicsen
dc.titleThe Non-Linear Electrodynamic Coupling Between the Solar Wind, Magnetosphere and Ionosphereen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineElectrical and Computer Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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