Appendix B
Units and Constants

This thesis uses SI units with the following exceptions. Also listed are a selection of relevant physical constants [Baumjohann & Treumann, 1996].
Quantity Unit Conversion
Magnetic field strength Gauss (G) 1   G = 10-4  T
Energy erg 1   erg = 10-7  J
Length Angstrom (Å) 1   Å = 10-10  m
Particle energy electron volt (eV) 1   eV = 1.60 ×10-19  J
Particle mass electron volt (eV) 1   eV = 1.78 ×10-36  kg
Quantity Symbol Value
speed of light c 3.00 ×108  m s-1
permeability of free space m0 4 p×10-7  H m-1
dielectric constant e0 8.85 ×10-12  F m-1
electron charge e 1.60 ×10-19  C
electron mass me 9.11 ×10-31  kg
electron mass me 5.12 ×105  eV
proton mass mp 1.67 ×10-27  kg
proton mass mp 9.38 ×108  eV
Boltzmann's constant kB 1.38 ×10-23  J K-1
Astronomical Unit AU 1.50 ×1011  m
Earth's radius RE 6.37 ×106  m



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Last Revision : 1st March 2003