Baker et al. 2014 « Space Environment Modeling Group

Baker D. N., A. N. Jaynes, X. Li, M. G. Henderson, S. G. Kanekal, G. D. Reeves, H. E. Spence, S. G. Claudepierre, J. F. Fennell, M. K. Hudson, R. M. Thorne, J. C. Foster, P. J. Erickson, D. M. Malaspina, J. R. Wygant, A. Boyd, C. A. Kletzing, A. Drozdov, Y. Y. Shprits, (2014), Gradual diffusion and punctuated phase space density enhancements of highly relativistic electrons: Van Allen Probes observations, Geophysical Research Letters, 41, 1351-1358, doi:10.1002/2013GL058942

Abstract

AbstractThe dual-spacecraft Van Allen Probes mission has provided a new window into mega electron volt (MeV) particle dynamics in the Earth's radiation belts. Observations (up to E ~10 MeV) show clearly the behavior of the outer electron radiation belt at different timescales: months-long periods of gradual inward radial diffusive transport and weak loss being punctuated by dramatic flux changes driven by strong solar wind transient events. We present analysis of multi-MeV electron flux and phase space density (PSD) changes during March 2013 in the context of the first year of Van Allen Probes operation. This March period demonstrates the classic signatures both of inward radial diffusive energization and abrupt localized acceleration deep within the outer Van Allen zone (L ~4.0 ± 0.5). This reveals graphically that both “competing” mechanisms of multi-MeV electron energization are at play in the radiation belts, often acting almost concurrently or at least in rapid succession.

Authors (sorted by name)

Baker Boyd Claudepierre Drozdov Fennell Kletzing Li Reeves Shprits Spence Thorne Wygant

Journal / Conference

Geophysical Research Letters

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by JHU/APL contract 967399 under NASA's prime contract NAS5‐01072. All Van Allen Probes data used are publicly available at (www.rbsp‐ect.lanl.gov).

Grants

967399 NAS5‐01072

Bibtex

@article{doi:10.1002/2013GL058942,
author = {Baker, D. N. and Jaynes, A. N. and Li, X. and Henderson, M. G. and Kanekal, S. G. and Reeves, G. D. and Spence, H. E. and Claudepierre, S. G. and Fennell, J. F. and Hudson, M. K. and Thorne, R. M. and Foster, J. C. and Erickson, P. J. and Malaspina, D. M. and Wygant, J. R. and Boyd, A. and Kletzing, C. A. and Drozdov, A. and Shprits, Y. Y.},
title = {Gradual diffusion and punctuated phase space density enhancements of highly relativistic electrons: Van Allen Probes observations},
journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
volume = {41},
number = {5},
year={2014},
pages = {1351-1358},
keywords = {radiation belt acceleration},
doi = {10.1002/2013GL058942},
url = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/2013GL058942},
eprint = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/2013GL058942},
abstract = {AbstractThe dual-spacecraft Van Allen Probes mission has provided a new window into mega electron volt (MeV) particle dynamics in the Earth's radiation belts. Observations (up to E ~10 MeV) show clearly the behavior of the outer electron radiation belt at different timescales: months-long periods of gradual inward radial diffusive transport and weak loss being punctuated by dramatic flux changes driven by strong solar wind transient events. We present analysis of multi-MeV electron flux and phase space density (PSD) changes during March 2013 in the context of the first year of Van Allen Probes operation. This March period demonstrates the classic signatures both of inward radial diffusive energization and abrupt localized acceleration deep within the outer Van Allen zone (L ~4.0 ± 0.5). This reveals graphically that both “competing” mechanisms of multi-MeV electron energization are at play in the radiation belts, often acting almost concurrently or at least in rapid succession.}
}