ON THE LIMIT OF FIELD-ALIGNED CURRENT INTENSITY IN THE POLAR MAGNETOSPHERE

Field-aligned current (FAC) is here defined by 4-pi-j = alpha-B, where alpha is constant along a magnetic field line. The upper limit value of alpha in the polar magnetosphere, possible source regions of the strongest FAC and the relationship of them to some auroral and ionospheric irregularity cross-field scale sizes are discussed. Cross-field dimensions of the strongest FAC are related to the gyroradii of source particles (O+, He++, He+, H+, e) in the current-generating region. It is suggested that experimental determination, and mapping of the values of alpha, may assist with the search for the generators of such currents in near-Earth space including in the nearby solar wind. We associate the upper limit of alpha with the breakup of FAC systems.