A determination of the charge state of energetic magnetospheric ions by the observation of drift echoes

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The mean charge states of heavy ions trapped in the earth's magnetosphere are important parameters for distinguishing among magnetospheric theories. No direct measurements have been made at energies greater than ∼ 50 keV. A technique, which uses the E/q dependence of ion drift velocity, is described in this letter. A drift‐echo event, which followed a substorm that occurred at 2100‐2200 UT on 25 February 1979, is discussed to illustrate the application of this technique. In this event the charge state of helium ions was +2 and CNO ions was > +2 and probably ≥ +5. This result implies that the drift‐echo particles were from freshly injected solar‐wind plasma.