Favored regions for chorus-driven electron acceleration to relativistic energies in the Earth's outer radiation belt

Meredith, N.P.; Horne, R.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0412-6407; Thorne, R.M.; Anderson, R.R.. 2003 Favored regions for chorus-driven electron acceleration to relativistic energies in the Earth's outer radiation belt. Geophysical Research Letters, 30 (16), 1871. 4, pp. 10.1029/2003GL017698

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract/Summary

[1] Pitch angle and energy diffusion rates for scattering by whistler-mode chorus waves are proportional to the wave magnetic field intensity and are strongly dependent on the frequency distribution of the waves and to the ratio between the electron plasma frequency (f(pe)) and the electron gyrofrequency (f(ce)). Relativistic electrons interact most readily with lower-band chorus (0.1 < f/f(ce) < 0.5) and energy diffusion leading to local acceleration to relativistic energies is most effective in regions of low f(pe)/f(ce). We perform statistical studies of CRRES data and show that, outside of the plasmapause, both f(pe)/f(ce) and lower-band chorus activity are dependent on magnetic activity with regions of low f(pe)/ fce and enhanced lower-band chorus activity occurring over a wide range of geospace during active conditions (AE > 300 nT). Enhanced waves in these regions could play a major role in electron acceleration to relativistic energies during periods of prolonged substorm activity.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1029/2003GL017698
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005) > Magnetic Reconnection, Substorms and their Consequences
ISSN:	00948276
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology Physics Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	11 Aug 2010 12:17 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10168

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...