Van Allen Probes Bibliography is from August 2012 through September 2021 Notice:
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Extreme ionospheric ion energization and electron heating in Alfv\ en waves in the storm-time inner magnetosphere
Author | Chaston, C.; Bonnell, J.; Wygant, J.; Kletzing, C.; Reeves, G.; Gerrard, A.; Lanzerotti, L.; Smith, C.; |
Keywords | Alfven waves; electron precipitation; Geomagnetic storms; ion acceleration; ion outflow; ion upflo |
Abstract | We report measurements of energized outflowing/bouncing ionospheric ions and heated electrons in the inner magnetosphere during a geomagnetic storm. The ions arrive in the equatorial plane with pitch angles that increase with energy over a range from tens of eV to > 50 keV while the electrons are field-aligned up to ~1 keV. These particle distributions are observed during intervals of broadband low frequency electromagnetic field fluctuations consistent with a Doppler-shifted spectrum of kinetic Alfv\ en waves and kinetic field-line resonances. The fluctuations extend from L≈3 out to the apogee of the Van Allen Probes spacecraft at L≈6.5. They thereby span most of the L-shell range occupied by the ring current. These measurements suggest a model for ionospheric ion outflow and energization driven by dispersive Alfv\ en waves that may account for the large storm-time contribution of ionospheric ions to magnetospheric energy density. |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
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Number of Pages | |
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Date Published | 12/2015 |
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URL | http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/2015GL066674 |
DOI | 10.1002/2015GL066674 |