Pitch-angle distribution in the Earth’s radiation belts of energetic particles accelerated during a strong magnetic storm

2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Muravieva
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Storm ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Radiation Belts ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Pitch Angle Distribution ◽  
Strong Magnetic Storm ◽  
Earth's Radiation Belts

scholarly journals POLAR spacecraft observations of helium ion angular anisotropy in the Earth's radiation belts

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. Spjeldvik ◽  
T. A. Fritz ◽  
J. Chen ◽  
R. B. Sheldon
Keyword(s):  
Local Time ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Radiation Belt ◽  
Radiation Belts ◽  
Magnetic Local Time ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Pitch Angle Distribution ◽  
Helium Ion ◽  
Earth’S Radiation Belt ◽  
Earth's Radiation Belts

Abstract. New observations of energetic helium ion fluxes in the Earth's radiation belts have been obtained with the CAMMICE/HIT instrument on the ISTP/GGS POLAR spacecraft during the extended geomagnetically low activity period April through October 1996. POLAR executes a high inclination trajectory that crosses over both polar cap regions and passes over the geomagnetic equator in the heart of the radiation belts. The latter attribute makes possible direct observations of nearly the full equatorial helium ion pitch angle distributions in the heart of the Earth's radiation belt region. Additionally, the spacecraft often re-encounters the same geomagnetic flux tube at a substantially off-equatorial location within a few tens of minutes prior to or after the equatorial crossing. This makes both the equatorial pitch angle distribution and an expanded view of the local off-equatorial pitch angle distribution observable. The orbit of POLAR also permitted observations to be made in conjugate magnetic local time sectors over the course of the same day, and this afforded direct comparison of observations on diametrically opposite locations in the Earth's radiation belt region at closely spaced times. Results from four helium ion data channels covering ion kinetic energies from 520 to 8200 KeV show that the distributions display trapped particle characteristics with angular flux peaks for equatorially mirroring particles as one might reasonably expect. However, the helium ion pitch angle distributions generally flattened out for equatorial pitch angles below about 45°. Significant and systematic helium ion anisotropy difference at conjugate magnetic local time were also observed, and we report quiet time azimuthal variations of the anisotropy index.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (energetic particles · trapped; magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; plasmasphere)

scholarly journals Comparison between CNA and energetic electron precipitation: simultaneous observation by Poker Flat Imaging Riometer and NOAA satellite

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1555-1563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-M. Tanaka ◽  
M. Ishii ◽  
Y. Murayama ◽  
M. Kubota ◽  
H. Mori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Electron Flux ◽  
Energetic Electron ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Electron Precipitation ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Pitch Angle Distribution ◽  
Loss Cone ◽  
Isotropic Pitch ◽  
Trapped Electron

Abstract. The cosmic noise absorption (CNA) is compared with the precipitating electron flux for 19 events observed in the morning sector, using the high-resolution data obtained during the conjugate observations with the imaging riometer at Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR; 65.11° N, 147.42° W), Alaska, and the low-altitude satellite, NOAA 12. We estimate the CNA, using the precipitating electron flux measured by NOAA 12, based on a theoretical model assuming an isotropic pitch angle distribution, and quantitatively compare them with the observed CNA. Focusing on the eight events with a range of variation larger than 0.4dB, three events show high correlation between the observed and estimated CNA (correlation coefficient (r0)>0.7) and five events show low correlation (r0<0.5). The estimated CNA is often smaller than the observed CNA (72% of all data for 19 events), which appears to be the main reason for the low-correlation events. We examine the assumption of isotropic pitch angle distribution by using the trapped electron flux measured at 80° zenith angle. It is shown that the CNA estimated from the trapped electron flux, assuming an isotropic pitch angle distribution, is highly correlated with the observed CNA and is often overestimated (87% of all data). The underestimate (overestimate) of CNA derived from the precipitating (trapped) electron flux can be interpreted in terms of the anisotropic pitch angle distribution similar to the loss cone distribution. These results indicate that the CNA observed with the riometer may be quantitatively explained with a model based on energetic electron precipitation, provided that the pitch angle distribution and the loss cone angle of the electrons are taken into account. Keywords. Energetic particles, precipitating – Energetic particles, trapped – Ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions

scholarly journals Reconnection and energetic particles at the edge of the exterior cusp

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1949-1956 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Asikainen ◽  
K. Mursula
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Energetic Particles ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Pitch Angle Distribution ◽  
Flux Transfer Events ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Field Lines

Abstract. In this paper we study flux transfer events (FTE) observed at the post-noon edge of the exterior cusp region by Cluster satellites. During the outbound dayside orbit on 2 February 2003, intense bursts of energetic particles were observed in close conjuction with magnetic field FTE signatures by the RAPID instrument onboard the Cluster 4. The pitch-angle distribution of the particles showed that the enhancements consist of particles flowing antiparallel to the magnetosheath field lines away from the expected reconnection site to the exterior cusp. At the same time Cluster 3 observed enhancements of energetic particles deeper in the exterior cusp with a delay of about 40 s to the Cluster 4 enhancements. The estimated maximum energy gain per particle by reconnection remains below 1 keV, thus clearly below the tens to hundreds of keV energy range observed by the RAPID instrument. These observations support the earlier statistical result of the magnetospheric origin of energetic particles in the exterior cusp. Reconnection near the exterior cusp partly releases the particles in the closed field lines of the adjacent HLPS region into the exterior cusp.

scholarly journals Modeling of Anisotropy Dynamics of the Proton Pitch Angle Distribution in the Earth’s Magnetosphere

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 632-637
Author(s):  
Sergei V. Smolin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Storm ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Pitch Angle Distribution ◽  
Earth’S Magnetosphere ◽  
Anisotropy Index ◽  
Earth's Magnetosphere ◽  
In The Beginning

Last years the attention to research of anisotropy of the charged particle pitch angle distribution has considerably increased. Therefore for research of anisotropy dynamics of the proton pitch angle distribution is used the two-dimensional Phenomenological Model of the Ring Current (PheMRC 2-D), which includes the radial and pitch angle diffusions with consideration of losses due to wave-particle interactions. Experimental data are collected on the Polar/MICS satellite during the magnetic storm on October 21–22, 1999. Solving the non-stationary two-dimensional equation of pitch angle and radial diffusions, numerically was determined the proton pitch angle distribution anisotropy index (or parameter of the proton pitch angle distribution) for the pitch angle of 90 degrees during the magnetic storm, when the geomagnetic activity Kp-index changed from 2 in the beginning of a storm up to 7+ in the end of a storm. Dependence of the perpendicular proton pitch angle distribution anisotropy index with energy E = 90 keV during the different moments of time from the McIlwain parameter L (2.26 < L < 6.6) is received. It is certain at a quantitative level for the magnetic storm on October 21–22, 1999, when and where on the nightside of the Earth’s magnetosphere (MLT = 2300) to increase in the geomagnetic activity Kp-index there is a transition from normal (pancake) proton pitch angle distributions to butterfly proton pitch angle distributions. That has allowed to determine unequivocally and precisely the anisotropy dynamics of the proton pitch angle distribution in the given concrete case. It is shown, that with increase of the geomagnetic activity Kp-index the boundary of isotropic proton pitch angle distribution comes nearer to the Earth, reaching L ≈ 3.6 at Kp = 7+

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