Abstract
By measurements of the earth's magnetic field in the region of the Van Allen radiation belts clear differences between the calculated dipole field and the observed values were found. During the flight of the cosmic rocket Mechta (2/1/1959) an anomaly of the magnetic field at a geocentric distance of about 21,000 km was discovered [Dolginow and Puschkow, 1960]. The shape of this anomaly could be interpreted as being caused by a ring current at the same distance from the earth [Singer, 1960]. An analogous discrepancy between the dipole field and the measured values was observed by the United States satellite Explorer VI in August 1959. Smith, Coleman, Judge, and Sonett [1960] have interpreted the shape of the magnetic field to be based on a ring current of 5 · 106 amp surrounding the earth at a geocentric distance of 60,000 km. The diameter of the current torus was calculated to 6 earth radii.
Published Version
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