Trapped electron losses by interactions with coherent VLF waves

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.51543· OSTI ID:451758

Walt, M; Inan, U S ^[1]; Voss, H D ^[2]

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1. Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California (United States)
2. Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. (United States)

VLF whistler waves from lightning enter the magnetosphere and cause the precipitation of energetic trapped electrons by pitch angle scattering. These events, known as Lightning-induced Electron Precipitation (LEP) have been detected by satellite and rocket instruments and by perturbations of VLF waves traveling in the earth-ionosphere waveguide. Detailed comparison of precipitating electron energy spectra and time dependence are in general agreement with calculations of trapped electron interactions with ducted whistler waves. In particular the temporal structure of the precipitation and the dynamic energy spectra of the electrons confirm this interpretation of the phenomena. There are discrepancies between observed and measured electron flux intensities and pitch angle distributions, but these quantities are sensitive to unknown wave intensities and trapped particle fluxes near the loss cone angle. The overall effect of lightning generated VLF waves on the lifetime of trapped electrons is still uncertain. The flux of electrons deflected into the bounce loss cone by a discrete whistler wave has been measured in a few cases. However, the area of the precipitation region is not known, and thus the total number of electrons lost in an LEP event can only be estimated. While the LEP events are dramatic, more important effects on trapped electrons may arise from the small but numerous deflections which increase the pitch angle diffusion rate of the electron population. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• Research Organization: No corporate text available (Country unknown/Code not available)
• OSTI ID: 451758
• Report Number(s): CONF-9408182--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 383; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ENERGY SPECTRA
FLUX DENSITY
LIGHTNING
TIMING PROPERTIES
TRAPPED ELECTRONS
WHISTLERS