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Title: On the Formation of Phantom Electron Phase Space Density Peaks in Single Spacecraft Radiation Belt Data

Abstract

Abstract This study examines the rapid losses and acceleration of trapped relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron populations in the Van Allen radiation belt during the September 7–9, 2017 geomagnetic storm. By analyzing the dynamics of the last closed drift shell (LCDS), and the electron flux and phase space density (PSD), we show that the electron dropouts are consistent with magnetopause shadowing and outward radial diffusion to the compressed LCDS. During the recovery phase, an in‐bound pass of Van Allen Probe A shows an apparent local peak in PSD, which does not exist in reality. A careful analysis of the multipoint measurements by the Van Allen Probes reveals instead how the apparent PSD peak arises from aliasing monotonic PSD profiles which are rapidly increasing due to acceleration from very fast inwards radial diffusion. In the absence of such multisatellite conjunctions during fast acceleration events, such peaks might otherwise be associated with local acceleration processes.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
OSTI Identifier:
1856162
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1786257
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-21-22136
Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276; TRN: US2305084
Grant/Contract Number:  
89233218CNA000001; 20150127ER; 20190262ER
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Geophysical Research Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 48; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

Citation Formats

Olifer, L., Mann, I. R., Ozeke, L. G., Morley, Steven Karl, and Louis, H. L. On the Formation of Phantom Electron Phase Space Density Peaks in Single Spacecraft Radiation Belt Data. United States: N. p., 2021. Web. doi:10.1029/2020GL092351.
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Olifer, L., Mann, I. R., Ozeke, L. G., Morley, Steven Karl, & Louis, H. L. On the Formation of Phantom Electron Phase Space Density Peaks in Single Spacecraft Radiation Belt Data. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092351
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Olifer, L., Mann, I. R., Ozeke, L. G., Morley, Steven Karl, and Louis, H. L. Thu . "On the Formation of Phantom Electron Phase Space Density Peaks in Single Spacecraft Radiation Belt Data". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092351. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1856162.
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@article{osti_1856162,
title = {On the Formation of Phantom Electron Phase Space Density Peaks in Single Spacecraft Radiation Belt Data},
author = {Olifer, L. and Mann, I. R. and Ozeke, L. G. and Morley, Steven Karl and Louis, H. L.},
abstractNote = {Abstract This study examines the rapid losses and acceleration of trapped relativistic and ultrarelativistic electron populations in the Van Allen radiation belt during the September 7–9, 2017 geomagnetic storm. By analyzing the dynamics of the last closed drift shell (LCDS), and the electron flux and phase space density (PSD), we show that the electron dropouts are consistent with magnetopause shadowing and outward radial diffusion to the compressed LCDS. During the recovery phase, an in‐bound pass of Van Allen Probe A shows an apparent local peak in PSD, which does not exist in reality. A careful analysis of the multipoint measurements by the Van Allen Probes reveals instead how the apparent PSD peak arises from aliasing monotonic PSD profiles which are rapidly increasing due to acceleration from very fast inwards radial diffusion. In the absence of such multisatellite conjunctions during fast acceleration events, such peaks might otherwise be associated with local acceleration processes.},
doi = {10.1029/2020GL092351},
journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
number = 11,
volume = 48,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2021},
month = {Thu May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2021}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL092351
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