Conductivity Structure and Energy Deposition from Prolonged Pulsating Aurora associated with the LAMP Sounding Rocket Campaign

Pulsating aurora refers to a patchy, diffuse-type aurora named for "on" "off" optical pulsations. Commonly observed in the morning sector, pulsating aurora is attributed to pitch angle scattering from equatorial magnetospheric chorus waves. Electron density profiles associated with pulsating aurora show enhancements at D-region altitudes because of elevated particle precipitation energies, which have a similar structure to the phases of optical pulsation. However, the effect of increases in Pedersen and Hall conductivities at D-region altitudes from this high energy particle precipitation has not been well characterized, primarily regarding electron mobility. This poster investigates a case study where over 10 hours of continuous pulsating aurora was observed following a substorm breakup event by Incoherent Scatter Radar during the LAMP Sounding Rocket Campaign from Poker Flat, AK on 03-05-2022. We present conductivity and electric field measurements of this event and examine the impact of prolonged electron-driven Pedersen current closure and associated energy deposition in the D-region/lower E-region ionosphere. We further present analysis of the Hall conductance behavior during the event with points of discussion for the auroral electrodynamics community. Quantifying the downstream effects of the increased electron mobility during pulsating aurora will help us understand the overall energy budget of these important MIT coupling events.