Effect of an MLT dependent electron loss rate on the magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling

Abstract

As plasma sheet electrons drift earthward, they get scattered into the loss cone due to wave‐particle interactions and the resulting precipitation produces auroral conductance. Realistic electron loss is thus important for modeling the magnetosphere ‐ ionosphere (M‐I) coupling and the degree of plasma sheet electron penetration into the inner magnetosphere. In order to evaluate the significance of electron loss, we used the Rice Convection Model (RCM) coupled with a force‐balanced magnetic field to simulate plasma sheet transport under different electron loss rates and under self‐consistent electric and magnetic field. We used different magnitudes of i) strong pitch angle diffusion everywhere electron loss rate (strong rate) and ii) a more realistic loss rate with its MLT dependence determined by wave activity (MLT rate). We found that electron pressure under the MLT rate is larger compared to the strong rate inside L ∼ 12 RE. The dawn‐dusk asymmetry in the precipitating electron energy flux under the MLT rate, with much higher energy flux at dawn than at dusk, agrees better with statistical DMSP observations. High‐energy electrons inside L ∼ 8 RE can remain there for many hours under the MLT rate, while those under the strong rate get lost within minutes. Under the MLT rate, the remaining electrons cause higher conductance at lower latitudes; thus after a convection enhancement, the shielding of the convection electric field is less efficient, and as a result, the ion plasma sheet penetrates further earthward into the inner magnetosphere than under the strong rate.