Ion distribution functions in cylindrically symmetric electric fields in the auroral ionosphere: the collision-free case in a uniformly charged configuration

Abstract

The aurora often breaks down into elongated filaments that are aligned with the geomagnetic field. It is natural to infer from this that when important structures are found in the electrostatic fields they, too, will follow a cylindrical geometry. With ionospheric applications in mind, we have therefore studied the response of the ion distribution function and its transport properties to the sudden introduction of an electric field which increases linearly 15 with radial distance.