Van Allen Probes Observations of Prompt MeV Radiation Belt Electron Acceleration in Non-Linear Interactions with VLF Chorus
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Abstract |
Prompt recovery of MeV electron populations in the post-storm core of the outer terrestrial radiation belt involves local acceleration of a seed population of energetic electrons in interactions with VLF chorus waves. Electron interactions during the generation of VLF rising tones are strongly non-linear, such that a fraction of the relativistic electrons at resonant energies are trapped by waves, leading to significant non-adiabatic energy exchange. Through detailed examination of VLF chorus and electron fluxes observed by Van Allen Probes, we investigate the efficiency of non-linear processes for acceleration of electrons to MeV energies. We find through subpacket analysis of chorus waveforms that electrons with initial energy 100s keV - 3 MeV can be accelerated by 50 keV - 200 keV in resonant interactions with a single VLF rising tone on a time scale of 10-100 msec.
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Year of Publication |
2016
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Journal |
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
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Date Published |
12/2016
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URL |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016JA023429/full
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DOI |
10.1002/2016JA023429
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