Energetic ions and electrons within the magnetosheath and upstream of the bow shock: Interball-1 overview

Abstract

We present the results of a statistical survey of Interball-1 DOK-2 energetic (E > 20 keV) ion and electron observations in the solar wind and magnetosheath. Using four years of 2-min averages, we demonstrate the manner by which solar wind parameters control energetic particle fluxes within the foreshock. As the angle between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the normal to the bow shock decreases, ion flux increase and ion spectra soften. Ion spectra harden for higher solar wind velocities and greater geomagnetic activity. While ion fluxes generally decrease with distance from the magnetopause, the flux of ions also increases when the angle between the IMF and the normal to the bow shock decreases, particularly at low energies.