Observations and Fokker-Planck Simulations of the L-Shell, Energy, and Pitch Angle Structure of Earth's Electron Radiation Belts During Quiet Times

J-F Ripoll; V Loridan; M. H. Denton; G. Cunningham; G. Reeves; O. Santolik; J. Fennell; D. L. Turner; A. Y. Drozdov; J. S. Cervantes Villa; Y. Y. Shprits; S. A. Thaller; W. S. Kurth; C. A. Kletzing; M. G. Henderson; A. Y. Ukhorskiy

doi:10.1029/2018JA026111

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Observations and Fokker-Planck Simulations of the L-Shell, Energy, and Pitch Angle Structure of Earth's Electron Radiation Belts During Quiet Times

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Observations and Fokker-Planck Simulations of the L-Shell, Energy, and Pitch Angle Structure of Earth's Electron Radiation Belts During Quiet Times

J-F Ripoll, V Loridan, M. H. Denton, G. Cunningham, G. Reeves, O. Santolik, J. Fennell, D. L. Turner, A. Y. Drozdov, J. S. Cervantes Villa, …

Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.124(2), pp.1125-1142

02/01/2019

DOI: 10.1029/2018JA026111

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Abstract

The evolution of the radiation belts in L-shell (L), energy (E), and equatorial pitch angle (alpha(0)) is analyzed during the calm 11-day interval (4-15 March) following the 1 March 2013 storm. Magnetic Electron and Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) observations from Van Allen Probes are interpreted alongside 1D and 3D Fokker-Planck simulations combined with consistent event-driven scattering modeling from whistler mode hiss waves. Three (L, E, alpha(0)) regions persist through 11 days of hiss wave scattering; the pitch angle-dependent inner belt core (L similar to <2.2 and E < 700 keV), pitch angle homogeneous outer belt low-energy core (L > similar to 5 and E similar to < 100 keV), and a distinct pocket of electrons (L similar to [4.5, 5.5] and E similar to [0.7, 2] MeV). The pitch angle homogeneous outer belt is explained by the diffusion coefficients that are roughly constant for alpha(0) similar to <60 degrees, E > 100 keV, 3.5 < L < L-pp similar to 6. Thus, observed unidirectional flux decays can be used to estimate local pitch angle diffusion rates in that region. Top-hat distributions are computed and observed at L similar to 3-3.5 and E = 100-300 keV.

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Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Title: Subtitle: Observations and Fokker-Planck Simulations of the L-Shell, Energy, and Pitch Angle Structure of Earth's Electron Radiation Belts During Quiet Times
Creators: J-F Ripoll - CEA DAM Île-de-France
V Loridan - CEA, DAM, DIF, Arpajon, France
M. H. Denton - Space Science Institute
G. Cunningham - Los Alamos National Laboratory
G. Reeves - Los Alamos National Laboratory
O. Santolik - Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics
J. Fennell - The Aerospace Corporation
D. L. Turner - The Aerospace Corporation
A. Y. Drozdov - University of California, Los Angeles
J. S. Cervantes Villa - GFZ German Res Ctr Geosci, Helmholtz Ctr Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Y. Y. Shprits - University of Potsdam
S. A. Thaller - University of Minnesota
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
C. A. Kletzing - University of Iowa
M. G. Henderson - Los Alamos National Laboratory
A. Y. Ukhorskiy - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, Vol.124(2), pp.1125-1142
DOI: 10.1029/2018JA026111
ISSN: 2169-9380
eISSN: 2169-9402
Publisher: Amer Geophysical Union
Number of pages: 18
Grant note: Praemium Academiae award NNX16AB83G; NNX16AB75G; 80NSSC17K0682; LTAUSA17070 / NASA Living With A Star CEA/DAM; French Atomic Energy Commission NNSA/DP on cooperation on fundamental science NAS5-01072 / NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) 922613 / APL contract to UMN
Language: English
Date published: 02/01/2019
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984428787802771

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