Realistic Magnetic Field Model Research Articles

Convection electric field effects on outer radiation belt electron precipitation

A model is presented for the possible diurnal modulation of outer radiation belt electron precipitation by considering the effect of the convection electric field on geomagnetically trapped electrons. The modulation flux is the flux due to electrons in the drift loss cone, i.e., those which drift into the bounce loss cone. The electron flux in the drift loss cone is related to the time allowable for diffusion from the stably trapped population to the drift loss cone for precipitation at a specific geographic location. This time, which is termed the maximum L-shell lifetime, is obtained by computing electron trajectories, using a realistic magnetic field model and a simple model for the electric field. The maximum L-shell lifetimes are taken to be the times between successive entries into the bounce loss cone. Conservation of the first two adiabatic invariants, as electrons are slowly energized by the convection electric field, leads to variations in pitch angle, maximum L-shell lifetimes, and, consequently, to changes in the electron flux in the drift loss cone. These results are compared with observations of precipitating electrons made with sounding rocket payloads.

Helium resonance and dispersion effects on geostationary Alfven/ion cyclotron waves

To understand observed structure and growth patterns of geostationary Alfvén/ion cyclotron waves, the properties of the hot proton cyclotron instability within a helium rich plasma are explored here. This exploration proceeds with an examination of the net linear wave amplifications that result as a wave propagates through the magnetic gradients of a realistic magnetic field model (linearity is discussed and justified). By taking care in generalizing a single pass model to a multiple pass system, the following conclusions have been reached: (1) The basic structure of the frequency gap that is observed close to the helium cyclotron frequency can be explained by the ‘stop‐gap’ dispersion effect; however, the helium cyclotron resonance effect contributes to the gap formation leading to He+ ion energization. (2) The presence of the magnetic gradients virtually insures that helium ion energization (by means of the low frequency wave branch only) is the inevitable consequence of the wave generation process. (3) The energized helium ions will sparsely populate a broad range of geomagnetic latitudes (±15 degrees) but will be concentrated strongly within several (2–4) degrees of the geomagnetic equator. (4) The presence of low percentages of helium ions is most likely to suppress the wave generation process (ATS 6 satellite observations support this conclusion for a portion of the wave spectrum).

Energetic particle losses and trapping boundaries as deduced from calculations with a realistic magnetic field model

An interpretation of the stable trapping boundaries of energetic electrons and protons during quiet periods is given basing on a realistic magnetospheric magnetic field model. Particle losses are explained in terms of an ionospheric and drift loss cone filling due to a non-adiabatic pitch-angle scattering in the nightside magnetotail current sheet. The proposed mechanism is shown to provide a good agreement of the observed and calculated positions of the energetic particle trapping boundaries, as well as their energy dependence. The obtained results can be applied as a tool for investigating the magnetospheric magnetic field structure using the particle data of low-altitude satellites.