Abstract
We find that ions E × B drifting through an auroral arc can undergo transverse acceleration and stochastic heating. This result is very analogous to recent work regarding similar phenomena in the magnetotail (Büchner and Zelenyi, 1990; Chen and Palmadesso, 1986; Brittnacher and Whipple, 1991). An analytic expression for the maximum arc width for which chaotic behavior is present is derived and numerically verified. We find, for example, that a 1.5‐km‐thick arc at Λ = 65° requires a minimum potential drop of 3 kV for transverse ion acceleration and heating to occur. Thicker arcs require higher potential drops for stochasticity to occur. This mechanism could be a source for conic ions.
Published Version
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