Application of Magnetospheric Imaging Techniques to Global Substorm Dynamics


2.1 NEUTRAL ATOM IMAGING

Neutral atom imaging has been shown by Roelof [1987] to be a useful imaging technique for space physics investigations. The technique utilizes the fact that the motions of electrically neutral particles are immune to the influence of the Lorentz force. An energetic ion gyrating around its guiding center can escape the control of the local magnetic field if it becomes neutralized through a charge-exchange reaction. The resulting energetic neutral atom will continue on with essentially the same momentum it had just prior to the charge exchange and be potentially detected by an NAI in the remote location. There has been much discussion in the literature on the potential merits for using NAI for substorm research (see for example: Daglis, 1995).



Web page prepared by:
Dan Isaac, disaac@isu.isunet.edu

Date: February 28, 1997