UPGOING ELECTRONS PRODUCED IN AN ELECTRON-PROTON-HYDROGEN ATOM AURORA

The first test of a self-consistent theory for the combined electron-p roton-hydrogen (H) atom aurora is presented. Specifically, the upgoing differential electron flux that results from precipitating protons an d electrons is modeled and compared to observations. The observations are from the Low Altitude Plasma instrument (LAPI) on board the Dynami cs Explorer 2 satellite. Excellent agreement between data and theory i s produced when a kappa distribution is used to extrapolate the observ ed proton spectra to energies beyond the instrument's energy cutoff (2 7 keV). More definitive tests of the model will require more comprehen sive observations as well as improvements in available proton-H atom c ross sections. However, it is concluded that data clearly supports the theoretical prediction that the secondary electron spectra due to pre cipitating protons and H atoms is much softer than that produced by pr ecipitating electrons. Also, the implication that the incoming proton spectra have a high-energy power law tail raises the possibility that previous determinations of the total ion energy flux are too low.