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Electric Field and Current

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Characterizing Space Plasmas

Part of the book series: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library ((AAL))

Abstract

One of the most important discoveries made in space plasma physics is the existence of electric field parallel to the direction of the magnetic field, E ∥. Hannes Alfvén developed an auroral model in 1939 predicting existence of electric fields directed along the magnetic field B driving a field-aligned current (FAC), J ∥. But it was not until 1960 that the first evidence of E ∥ was obtained. Electron beams were observed moving earthward along the geomagnetic field to produce the aurora while the ions moved outward in the opposite direction. These beams are produced when thermal particles are accelerated by E ∥ along B. The electron and ion beams are part of the global auroral current system induced by the solar wind interaction with the magnetosphere. We have since learned that all of the dynamics associated with the aurora can be organized within the framework of the global current systems.

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  1. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    George K. Parks

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Parks, G.K. (2018). Electric Field and Current. In: Characterizing Space Plasmas. Astronomy and Astrophysics Library. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90041-4_6

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