Auroral particle transport using Monte Carlo and hybrid methods

Abstract

A numerical model of energetic electron transport in the thermosphere and middle atmosphere has been extended for application to proton aurora. The electron model employs a Monte Carlo method for the primary flux and either a full Monte Carlo or two-stream method for secondary electrons. The hybrid Monte Carlo / two-stream (MC2S) method has been adapted to the case of auroral proton / hydrogen atom / secondary electron fluxes. The methodology for implementation of these models is described, and selected results are compared to other algorithms. Good agreement is obtained with recent results using equation of transfer methods.