Critical examination of a theory of auroral electrojets

A charge separation mechanism previously suggested by one of the present authors for the explanation of auroral electrojets is critically examined. It is assumed that near the auroral zone the ionospheric conductivity is enhanced by electron bombardment and that those presently unknown energetic trapped protons whose energies are below the Explorer 12 counter threshold must also be considered. Computations of the current system are carried out for different assumed latitude distributions of the trapped particles and of the enhanced conductivity. It is demonstrated that large electrojet currents responsible for magnetic disturbances of the order of 1000 γ result only if the assumed conductivity enhancement extends over a much wider range of latitudes than that occupied by the assumed trapped particles.