Journal article
Near-Earth injection of MeV electrons associated with intense dipolarization electric fields: Van Allen Probes observations
Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(15), pp.6170-6179
08/16/2015
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL064955
PMCID: PMC5014237
PMID: 27656009
Abstract
Substorms generally inject tens to hundreds of keV electrons, but intense substorm electric fields have been shown to inject MeV electrons as well. An intriguing question is whether such MeVelectron injections can populate the outer radiation belt. Here we present observations of a substorm injection of MeV electrons into the inner magnetosphere. In the premidnight sector at
∼ 5.5, Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes)-A observed a large dipolarization electric field (50 mV/m) over ∼40 s and a dispersionless injection of electrons up to ∼3 MeV. Pitch angle observations indicated betatron acceleration of MeV electrons at the dipolarization front. Corresponding signals of MeV electron injection were observed at LANL-GEO, THEMIS-D, and GOES at geosynchronous altitude. Through a series of dipolarizations, the injections increased the MeV electron phase space density by 1 order of magnitude in less than 3 h in the outer radiation belt (
> 4.8). Our observations provide evidence that deep injections can supply significant MeV electrons.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Near-Earth injection of MeV electrons associated with intense dipolarization electric fields: Van Allen Probes observations
- Creators
- Lei Dai - Chinese Academy of SciencesCraig Kletzing - University of IowaChi Wang - Chinese Academy of SciencesLunjin Chen - University of Texas at DallasSuping Duan - Chinese Academy of SciencesZhaohai He - Chinese Academy of SciencesJohn R Wygant - University of MinnesotaCynthia A Cattell - University of MinnesotaXin Tao - University of Science and Technology of ChinaZhenpeng Su - University of Science and Technology of ChinaDaniel N Baker - University of Colorado BoulderXinlin Li - University of Colorado BoulderDavid Malaspina - University of Colorado BoulderJ Bernard Blake - The Aerospace CorporationJoseph Fennell - The Aerospace CorporationSeth Claudepierre - The Aerospace CorporationDrew L Turner - The Aerospace CorporationGeoffrey D Reeves - Los Alamos National LaboratoryHerbert O Funsten - Los Alamos National LaboratoryVassilis Angelopoulos - University of California, Los AngelesHarlan E Spence - University of New HampshireDennis Fruehauff - Technische Universität BraunschweigScott Thaller - University of MinnesotaAaron Breneman - University of MinnesotaXiangwei Tang - University of Minnesota
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.42(15), pp.6170-6179
- DOI
- 10.1002/2015GL064955
- PMID
- 27656009
- PMCID
- PMC5014237
- NLM abbreviation
- Geophys Res Lett
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/501100001809, name: NNSFC, award: 41231067; name: JHU/APL, award: 921647; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: NASA, award: NNX15AF55G
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/16/2015
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984199927102771
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