A Tale of Two Radiation Belts: The Energy‐Dependence of Self‐Limiting Electron Space Radiation

Abstract

AbstractThe flux of energetic electrons in the terrestrial Van Allen Belts varies by orders of magnitude during a magnetic storm. Here, we show how the dynamics of these electrons are clearly separated by energy into two distinct populations which are governed by different storm time behavior. We reveal how self‐limiting processes, described theoretically by Kennel and Petschek (1966), https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ071i001p00001, govern the energy‐dependent dynamics of the electrons. For terrestrial magnetic storms, accelerated electrons with energies below 850 keV quickly reach a maximum energy‐dependent differential flux level which is almost the same in every storm. Higher energy electrons typically do not reach a limiting flux and instead are governed by the differential impacts of competing acceleration and loss mechanisms. In general, electron fluxes saturate at the Kennel‐Petschek limit first at lower energies, impacting higher energies later in the storm. For the most intense storms, the maximum energy at which the fluxes are capped can also increase.