Abstract

Results of an analysis of the double layer kinetic characteristics in the case of kappa distributions are presented. The direct and classical double layers and double layers in a trap have been considered. It has been indicated that the restrictions imposed by the Bom-Block criteria are removed if trapped particle populations between the ionosphere and the electrostatic potential jump and between conjugate potential jumps are considered. The dependence of particle fluxes through the double layer in a trap, replacing the Langmuir criterion of a classical double layer, has been obtained. The applicability of the obtained results to the solution of the problem of particle acceleration in the auroral plasma has been discussed. The dependence of the current carried by precipitating magnetospheric electrons on the field-aligned potential jump and kappa distribution characteristics has been obtained.