High-velocity fluxes of the solar wind and the fluxes of energetic electrons in the Earth's outer magnetosphere

Abstract

The results of the “Cosmos-900” measurements of energetic electrons are reported (H ≃ 500 km, the orbit inclination ≃83 o). A short-time (≃6 h) increase of the intensity was observed with the instrument channel, which registered electrons with Ee> 15 MeV, in 18–19 July 1977, as the Earth crossed the boundary of the IMF magnetic sector. The increase of the intensity was observed in the northern and southern hemispheres in a wide range of magnetic shells L = 3.5 to 10. Thus, the electron fluxes with energy Ee> 15 MeV were for the first time revealed in the outer magnetosphere on the magnetic shells adjaced to the magnetospheric boundary. The appearance of energetic electrons is attributed to the interaction of the recurrent flux of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere. The observed phenomenon is compared with other events in which “Cosmos-900” registered the electron fluxes with Ee> 15 MeV on inner shells during the magnetic storms. All the events have a feature in common — a high velocity of solar wind (>700 km/s).