Rocket-borne measurements of Hβ emissions and energetic hydrogen fluxes during an auroral breakup

Simultaneous rocket-borne measurements of the intensity and altitude profile of Hβ light emission and the flux and energy spectrum of 0.5-22 kev precipitated hydrogen have been performed during an auroral breakup. The altitude of maximum Hβ emission was 130 km; the emission decreased rapidly at altitudes above the peak. The estimated total Hβ intensity was ∼300 R±150 R, corresponding to an emission efficiency 0.25 photons proton−1. The experimental results are compared with the theoretically predicted emission efficiencies and altitude profiles.