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Reply in response to comment by E. W. HonesHones 1977 points out the marked disagreement between the plasma flow measurements reported by Frank et al. 1976 and those obtained with the LASL plasma analyzer. He suggests (1) that solar ultraviolet background rates may have been incorrectly accounted for in the computation of proton bulk flows in the magnetotail as reported by Frank et al. 1976 and (2) that bulk flows with substantial speeds, i.e., those speeds greater than 50 km per sec, are seldom encountered in the plasma sheet at geocentric radial distances approx. equal to 35 R sub E. It is demonstrated that such ultraviolet responses were carefully considered by Frank et al. 1976 and thus the conclusion is maintained that bulk flows greater than 50 km per sec frequently occur in the plasma sheet at these radial distances. Further, a direct comparison of the capabilities of the LASL plasma analyzer employed by Hones and of the LEPEDEA Frank et al., 1976 indicates that there are rather severe restrictions on which plasmas in the plasma sheet can be properly measured to gain proton temperatures, number densities and flow velocities with the LASL plasma analyzer.
Document ID
19770025935
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Frank, L. A.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Decoster, R. J.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Ackerson, K. L.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 3, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1977
Subject Category
Plasma Physics
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-149826
U-OF-IOWA-77-3
Accession Number
77N32879
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-11064
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-16-001-002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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