Neutral Atom Imaging: Opportunities for ISTP
Conveners: Geoff Reeves (LANL) & Don Mitchell (JHU/APL)
Neutral atom imaging of the magnetosphere was not one of the original
scientific objectives of the ISTP program yet Energetic Neutral Atom
(ENA) imaging from POLAR has helped lay the groundwork for current
and future missions such as IMAGE and TWINS. Results have included
ENA observations of substorm injections, contribution of the partial
ring current to Dst, observation of the quiet-time ring current,
comparison of storm-time and isolated substorm injections, and decay
of the ring current through charge exchange production of ENAs. Now,
with the simultaneous operation of IMAGE, ACE, and the ISTP
satellites we have the opportunity to strengthen and extend the
scientific goals of ISTP. Neutral atom imaging has the ability to
provide a global context for in situ observations of magnetospheric
processes and the response of the magnetosphere to solar wind
drivers. Likewise in situ observations provide a "ground truth" for
ENA observations which gives the potential for improved image
inversion and new scientific insights. Other opportunities include
simultaneous, "stereo" ENA imaging from POLAR and IMAGE and the
direct comparison of large-scale magnetospheric and ring current
models of particular events with the observed ENA outflow. This
session will consider the contribution of ENA imaging to the
objectives of ISTP and develop goals and objectives for future ENA
and ISTP joint contributions.
Confirmed Speakers
Tony Lui
Martin Walt
Don Mitchell
Criag Pollock
Geoff Reeves
Harlan Spence
Interested participants should contact one of the organizers with details
concerning the talks they wish to present.
Geoff Reeves (reeves@lanl.gov)
Don Mitchell (donald.g.mitchell@jhuapl.edu)
