Prognoz 10 energetic particle data: Leakage from the magnetosphere versus bow shock acceleration

Abstract

We present a case study and a statistical survey of Prognoz 10 energetic particle and magnetic field observations from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. The results provide evidence for both Fermi acceleration and leakage from the magnetosphere. Energetic ion (E > 15 keV) flux levels upstream of the bow shock and in the outer magnetosphere generally exceed those in the magnetosheath. Energetic electrons rarely accompany ion fluxes in the outer magnetosheath and upstream of the bow shock, but commonly accompany those in the inner magnetosheath. Upstream flux levels increase as the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) rotates toward the bow shock normal, consistent with Fermi acceleration. Although the north/south magnetosheath magnetic field orientation has no effect upon energetic particle flux levels in the outer magnetosheath, flux levels in the inner magnetosheath increase during periods of southward IMF. We interpret the results as indicating that Fermi acceleration supplies most of the ions observed in the outer dayside magnetosheath but that leakage from the magnetosphere supplies most of the ions observed in the inner magnetosheath.