Magnetoglow: A New Geophysical Resource

Abstract

Evidence has been found that the earth is immersed in a large volume of glowing helium ions. This ionic glow, at 304 angstroms, is similar to the geocoronal hydrogen glow in that it extends to very high altitudes, but it is unique in that it is largely confined to the closed field line portion of the magnetosphere. Because of its magnetic containment, this ionic radiation is called the "magnetoglow." Observations of the magnetoglow from inside and outside the magnetospheric cavity promise to provide a valuable means of studying the structural dynamics of the magnetosphere.