Bibliography

High-energy electron flux enhancement pattern in the outer radiation belt in response to the Alfvénic fluctuations within high-speed solar wind stream: A statistical analysis

Abstract The coupling response between solar wind structures and the magnetosphere is highly complex, leading to different effects in the outer radiation belt electron fluxes. Most Coronal Mass Ejections cause strong geomagnetic storms with short recovery phases, often 1-2 days. By contrast, High-Speed Solar Wind Streams lead to moderate and weak storms often with much longer recovery phases, from several to ∼10 days. The magnetosphere receives energy for a long time under the influence of the HSSs, considerably changing its dynamics. This in turn has an effect on the charged particles trapped in the outer radiation belt. Although the high-energy electron flux enhancements have received considerable attention, the high-energy electron flux enhancement pattern (L > 4) has not. This paper identifies 37 events with this enhancement pattern in the high-energy electron flux during the Van Allen Probes era. We find the enhancements coincident with HSS occurrence. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) exhibits north/south Bz fluctuations of Alfvénic nature with moderate amplitudes. The high-energy electron flux enhancements also correspond to long periods of auroral activity indicating a relationship to magnetotail dynamics. However, the AE index only reaches moderate values. Ultra-Low Frequency waves were present in all of the events and whistler-mode chorus waves were present in 89.1\% of the events, providing a convenient scenario for wave-particle interactions. The radial gradient of the ULF wave power related to the L, under the influence of the HSSs, is necessary to trigger the physical processes responsible for this type of high-energy electron flux enhancement pattern. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Da Silva, L.; Shi, J.; Alves, L.; Sibeck, D.; Marchezi, J.; Medeiros, C.; Vieira, L.; Agapitov, O.; Cardoso, F.; Souza, V.; Dal Lago, A.; Jauer, P.; Wang, C.; Li, H.; Liu, Z.; Alves, M.; Rockenbach, M.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 07/2021

YEAR: 2021     DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029363

outer radiation belt; high-energy electron flux; high speed solar wind stream; ultra low frequency waves; whistler-mode chorus waves; Electron flux enhancement; Van Allen Probes

Modeling the Electron Flux Enhancement and Butterfly Pitch Angle Distributions on L Shells <2.5

We analyze an energetic electron flux enhancement event in the inner radiation belt observed by Van Allen Probes during an intense geomagnetic storm. The energetic electron flux at L~1.5 increased by a factor of 3 with pronounced butterfly pitch angle distributions (PADs). Using a three-dimensional radiation belt model, we simulate the electron evolution under the impact of radial diffusion, local wave-particle interactions including hiss, very low frequency transmitters, and magnetosonic waves, as well as Coulomb scattering. Consistency between observation and simulation suggests that inward radial diffusion plays a dominant role in accelerating electrons up to 900 keV and transporting the butterfly PADs from higher L shells to form the butterfly PADs at L~1.5. However, local wave-particle interactions also contribute to drive butterfly PADs at L ≳ 1.9. Our study provides a feasible mechanism to explain the electron flux enhancement in the inner belt and the persistent presence of the butterfly PADs at L~1.5.

Hua, Man; Li, Wen; Ma, Qianli; Ni, Binbin; Nishimura, Yukitoshi; Shen, Xiao-Chen; Li, Haimeng;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on: 09/2019

YEAR: 2019     DOI: 10.1029/2019GL084822

3-D radial belt modeling; Butterfly pitch angle distribution; Electron flux enhancement; inner belt and slot region; Inward radial diffusion; local wave-particle interactions; Van Allen Probes