Ia. Barghouthi et al., A Monte Carlo simulation of the H+ polar wind: Effect of velocity distributions with Kappa suprathermal tails, ASTRO SP SC, 277(3), 2001, pp. 427-436
A Monte Carlo simulation is used to study the effects of Kappa H+ distribut
ions in the polar wind. We consider the gravity, the polarization electric
field, the divergence of geomagnetic field lines and Coulomb collisions of
H+ in a background of O+ ions. The aim is to study the consequences of a ve
locity distribution function with an enhanced high energy tail instead of a
Maxwellian distribution as assumed in earlier Monte Carlo simulations. The
transformation of the velocity distribution function of H+ ions as a funct
ion of the altitude is presented. Effects resulting from the acceleration o
f the particles by the polarization electric field and from Coulomb collisi
ons depend on the energy of the particles. Coulomb collisions mainly affect
low energy particles while high energy particles are more efficiently acce
lerated by the upward directed ambipolar electric field. The combination of
both effects results in double-hump velocity distribution functions develo
ping in the transition region. We study consequences of suprathermal tails
distributions on the shape of the double-hump and on the moments of the vel
ocity distribution function.