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The Electrostatic Analyzers ("ESAs") measure the direction and
energy of charged particles in the polar ionosphere. These
particles are primarily electrons (-) and protons (+), but can
also include oxygen and helium as well. Changes in the solar
wind and the local "space weather" of the Earth can accelerate
these particles to high energies; when they hit the upper layers
of our atmosphere, aurora can be the result. These instruments
tell us how many particles were present, their direction in
space, and if the particle masses are known, their velocities as
well. With this information, scientists can infer what processes
may have caused these particles to "precipitate" towards the
Earth and relate these to changes in the solar wind that
surrounds the Earth.
Additional information available at
"http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/PolarCusp/instruments2/B.html"
[Summary provided by the Silver Space Sciences Laboratory]
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