Observations of Particle Loss due to Injection‐Associated Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves

Abstract

AbstractWe report on observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and their interactions with injected ring current particles and high energy radiation belt electrons. The magnetic field experiment aboard the twin Van Allen Probes spacecraft measured EMIC waves near L = 5.5–6. Particle data from the spacecraft show that the waves were associated with particle injections. The wave activity was also observed by a ground‐based magnetometer near the spacecraft geomagnetic footprint over a more extensive temporal range. Phase space density profiles, calculated from directional differential electron flux data from Van Allen Probes, show that there was a significant energy‐dependent relativistic electron dropout over a limited L‐shell range during and after the EMIC wave activity. In addition, the NOAA spacecraft observed relativistic electron precipitation associated with the EMIC waves near the footprint of the Van Allen Probes spacecraft. The observations suggest EMIC wave‐induced relativistic electron loss in the radiation belt.