Precipitation of radiation belt electrons by EMIC waves, observed from ground and space

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Geophysical Research Letters

OSTI ID:960979

Jordanova, Vania K ^[1]; Miyoski, Y ^[2]; Sakaguchi, K ^[2]; Shiokawa, K ^[2]; Evans, D S ^[3]; Albert, Jay ^[4]; Connors, M ^[5]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. NAGOYA UNIV
3. NOAA, BOULDER
4. AFRL
5. UNIV OF ATHABASCA

We show evidence that left-hand polarised electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) plasma waves can cause the loss of relativistic electrons into the atmosphere. Our unique set of ground and satellite observations shows coincident precipitation of ions with energies of tens of keY and of relativistic electrons into an isolated proton aurora. The coincident precipitation was produced by wave-particle interactions with EMIC waves near the plasmapause. The estimation of pitch angle diffusion coefficients supports that the observed EMIC waves caused coincident precipitation ofboth ions and relativistic electrons. This study clarifies that ions with energies of tens of ke V affect the evolution of relativistic electrons in the radiation belts via cyclotron resonance with EMIC waves, an effect that was first theoretically predicted in the early 1970's.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 960979
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-08-06859; LA-UR-08-6859; GPRLAJ; TRN: US1002684
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
58 GEOSCIENCES
CYCLOTRON RESONANCE
CYCLOTRONS
DIFFUSION
ELECTRIC GROUNDS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRONS
INCLINATION
INTERACTIONS
ION CYCLOTRON-RESONANCE
IONS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
PLASMAPAUSE
POLARIZATION
PRECIPITATION
PROTONS
RADIATION BELTS
SATELLITES
SPACE