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Title: A background correction algorithm for Van Allen Probes MagEIS electron flux measurements

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
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  1. The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (United States). Space Sciences Dept.
  2. Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States). Institute for the Study of Earth Oceans and Space.
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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We describe an automated computer algorithm designed to remove background contamination from the Van Allen Probes Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) electron flux measurements. We provide a detailed description of the algorithm with illustrative examples from on-orbit data. We find two primary sources of background contamination in the MagEIS electron data: inner zone protons and bremsstrahlung X-rays generated by energetic electrons interacting with the spacecraft material. Bremsstrahlung X-rays primarily produce contamination in the lower energy MagEIS electron channels (~30–500 keV) and in regions of geospace where multi-M eV electrons are present. Inner zone protons produce contamination in all MagEIS energy channels at roughly L < 2.5. The background-corrected MagEIS electron data produce a more accurate measurement of the electron radiation belts, as most earlier measurements suffer from unquantifiable and uncorrectable contamination in this harsh region of the near-Earth space environment. These background-corrected data will also be useful for spacecraft engineering purposes, providing ground truth for the near-Earth electron environment and informing the next generation of spacecraft design models (e.g., AE9).

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1212474
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 120; ISSN 2169-9380
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) Mass Spectrometer for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission journal March 2013
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Cited By (20)

Energy-dependent dynamics of keV to MeV electrons in the inner zone, outer zone, and slot regions: ENERGY-DEPENDENT RADIATION BELT DYNAMICS journal January 2016
The relationship between the plasmapause and outer belt electrons journal September 2016
Characteristic energy range of electron scattering due to plasmaspheric hiss: Electron Scattering by Hiss Waves journal December 2016
The hidden dynamics of relativistic electrons (0.7–1.5 MeV) in the inner zone and slot region journal March 2017
Empirical radiation belt models: Comparison with in situ data and implications for environment definition: Empirical Radiation Belt Models journal September 2017
Space Weather Effects in the Earth’s Radiation Belts book January 2017
Space Weather Effects in the Earth’s Radiation Belts journal December 2017
Diagnosis of ULF Wave‐Particle Interactions With Megaelectron Volt Electrons: The Importance of Ultrahigh‐Resolution Energy Channels journal October 2018
The Response of Earth's Electron Radiation Belts to Geomagnetic Storms: Statistics From the Van Allen Probes Era Including Effects From Different Storm Drivers journal February 2019
On the Initial Enhancement of Energetic Electrons and the Innermost Plasmapause Locations: Coronal Mass Ejection‐Driven Storm Periods journal November 2018
Observations and Fokker‐Planck Simulations of the L ‐Shell, Energy, and Pitch Angle Structure of Earth's Electron Radiation Belts During Quiet Times journal February 2019
Dynamics of Megaelectron Volt Electrons Observed in the Inner Belt by PROBA‐V/EPT journal March 2019
A Revised Look at Relativistic Electrons in the Earth's Inner Radiation Zone and Slot Region journal February 2019
Electron Intensity Measurements by the Cluster/RAPID/IES Instrument in Earth's Radiation Belts and Ring Current journal April 2019
Modeling the Electron Flux Enhancement and Butterfly Pitch Angle Distributions on L Shells <2.5 journal October 2019
Diffuse Auroral Electron and Ion Precipitation Effects on RCM‐E Comparisons With Satellite Data During the 17 March 2013 Storm journal June 2019
Comparison of Electron Loss Models in the Inner Magnetosphere During the 2013 St. Patrick's Day Geomagnetic Storm journal October 2019
RBSP‐ECT Combined Spin‐Averaged Electron Flux Data Product journal November 2019
How Sudden, Intense Energetic Electron Enhancements Correlate With the Innermost Plasmapause Locations Under Various Solar Wind Drivers and Geomagnetic Conditions journal November 2019
Dynamics of Megaelectron Volt Electrons Observed in the Inner Belt by PROBA-V/EPT text January 2019

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