Linear transport theory of auroral proton precipitation: A comparison with observations

Abstract

In this paper we present nearly coincident Chatanika radar electron density measurements and NOAA 6 particle data for a continuous (diffuse) auroral E layer with a peak electron density of 1–2 × 105 cm−3 produced entirely by proton precipitation. The radar and particle data are analyzed using the Jasperse‐Basu transport theoretic method and the semiempirical, continuous slowing down method of Rees. Comparisons between the radar results for the electron density profile and the two theoretical results are given. We conclude that the transport theoretic method of Jasperse and Basu gives a more accurate result for the shape of the electron density profile and for the location of its peak than the semiempirical, continuous slowing down method of Rees. We also apply the transport theoretic method to derive a closed form expression for the energy deposition function and compare the transport theoretic energy deposition function with that used by Rees in order to explain the differences in the electron density profiles obtained by the two theoretical methods.