Bibliography

On the Acceleration Mechanism of Ultrarelativistic Electrons in the Center of the Outer Radiation Belt: A Statistical Study

Using energetic particle and wave measurements from the Van Allen Probes, Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES), and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), the acceleration mechanism of ultrarelativistic electrons (>3 MeV) in the center of the outer radiation belt is investigated statistically. A superposed epoch analysis is conducted using 19 storms, which caused flux enhancements of 1.8\textendash7.7 MeV electrons. The evolution of electron phase space density radial profile suggests an energy-dependent acceleration of ultrarelativistic electrons in the outer belt. Especially, for electrons with very high energies (~7 MeV), prevalent positive phase space density radial gradients support inward radial diffusion being responsible for electron acceleration in the center of the outer belt (L*~3\textendash5) during most enhancement events in the Van Allen Probes era. We propose a two-step acceleration process to explain the acceleration of ~7 MeV electrons in the outer belt: intense and sustained chorus waves locally energize core electron populations to ultrarelativistic energies at high L region beyond the Van Allen Probes\textquoteright apogee, followed by inward radial diffusion which further energizes these populations to even higher energies. Statistical results of chorus wave activity inferred from POES precipitating electron measurements as well as core electron populations observed by the Van Allen Probes and GOES support this hypothesis.

Zhao, H.; Baker, D.N.; Li, X.; Malaspina, D.M.; Jaynes, A.N.; Kanekal, S.G.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 10/2019

YEAR: 2019     DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027111

Acceleration mechanism; Inward radial diffusion; Local Acceleration; Phase space density; Radiation belts; ultrarelativistic electrons; 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

The Acceleration of Ultrarelativistic Electrons During a Small to Moderate Storm of 21 April 2017

The ultrarelativistic electrons (E > ~3 MeV) in the outer radiation belt received limited attention in the past due to sparse measurements. Nowadays, the Van Allen Probes measurements of ultrarelativistic electrons with high energy resolution provide an unprecedented opportunity to study the dynamics of this population. In this study, using data from the Van Allen Probes, we report significant flux enhancements of ultrarelativistic electrons with energies up to 7.7 MeV during a small to moderate geomagnetic storm. The underlying physical mechanisms are investigated by analyzing and simulating the evolution of electron phase space density. The results suggest that during this storm, the acceleration mechanism for ultrarelativistic electrons in the outer belt is energy-dependent: local acceleration plays the most important role in the flux enhancements of ~3\textendash5 MeV electrons, while inward radial diffusion is the main acceleration mechanism for ~7 MeV electrons at the center of the outer radiation belt.

Zhao, H.; Baker, D.; Li, X.; Jaynes, A.; Kanekal, S.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on: 06/2018

YEAR: 2018     DOI: 10.1029/2018GL078582

Energy-dependent acceleration; Geomagnetic storms; Inward radial diffusion; Local Acceleration; Radiation belts; Ultra-relativistic electrons; Van Allen Probes