Super Rotation of Atmosphere/Plasma in Thermosphere-Cooperated Observations by Japan, India and Taiwan-

在航天飞机、空间站和卫星飞行的热层中，中性大气受到太阳极紫外光和X射线辐射的电离，电离率约为0.01%。由于电离离子和电子等离子体受局部地磁力线的约束运动，中性大气和等离子体之间发生了很大的动量转移。最近的卫星观测表明，等离子体控制着低纬热层中性大气的运动，力通过ExB漂移沿地磁线映射。这种相互作用可能导致低纬热层中性大气的超旋。S520火箭于2007年9月2日日本标准时间19时25分在日本宇宙航空研究开发机构的Uchinoura航天中心发射升空。火箭上装备了锂罐和等离子仪器。约1000K的锂气体在230公里、190公里和140公里高度有三次释放。太阳光被锂气体散射，在波长670 nm处发生共振散射，并在4个地面站进行了观测。我们首次获得了热层中的中性密度和温度分布。通过与等离子体仪器数据的比较，可以清楚地了解中性大气与等离子体的相互作用过程。我们还获得了通过气体释放、地面灵敏的CCD相机和图像处理来测量高层热层的新技术。

In thermosphere where Space shuttle, Space station and satellites are flying, neutral atmosphere are ionized by Solar EUV and X-ray radiations with the ionization rate of 〜0.01%. Since the ionized ions and electrons, plasma, has a constrained motion by local geomagnetic field line, a large momentum transfer occurs between neutral atmosphere and plasma. Recent satellite observations indicated that the plasma controls the motion of neutral atmosphere in low latitude thermosphere, and the force is mapped along geomagnetic field line by ExB drift. The interaction may result in super rotation of neutral atmosphere in low latitude thermosphere. However, no simultaneous observation of neutral atmosphere and plasma has been carried out in the upper thermosphere.S520 rocket was launched from Uchinoura space center of JAXA at 19:25 JST on September 2, 2007. Lithium canisters and plasma instruments were equipped the rocket. Lithium gases with 〜1000 K were released three times at 230 km, 190 km and 140 km altitudes. Sunlight was scatted by the lithium gas with the resonance scattering at the wavelength of 670 nm, and was observed from 4 ground stations. We obtained, at the first time, neutral density and temperature profiles in thermosphere. An interaction process between neutral atmosphere and plasma will be made clear from the comparison with the data of plasma instruments. We also obtained the new technology to measure upper thermosphere by gas release, sensitive CCD camera on ground, and image processing.