Prompt energization of relativistic and highly relativistic electrons during a substorm interval: Van Allen Probes observations

作者：Foster J C; Erickson P J^*; Baker D N; Claudepierre S G; Kletzing C A; Kurth W; Reeves G D; Thaller S A; Spence H E; Shprits Y Y; Wygant J R

来源：Geophysical Research Letters, 2014, 41(1): 20-25.

DOI：10.1002/2013GL058438

• Relativistic Electrons
• Substorm
• Radiation Belts
• Prompt Energizations

On 17 March 2013, a large magnetic storm significantly depleted the multi-MeV radiation belt. We present multi-instrument observations from the Van Allen Probes spacecraft Radiation Belt Storm Probe A and Radiation Belt Storm Probe B at similar to 6Re in the midnight sector magnetosphere and from ground-based ionospheric sensors during a substorm dipolarization followed by rapid reenergization of multi-MeV electrons. A 50% increase in magnetic field magnitude occurred simultaneously with dramatic increases in 100keV electron fluxes and a 100 times increase in VLF wave intensity. The 100keV electrons and intense VLF waves provide a seed population and energy source for subsequent radiation belt enhancements. Highly relativistic (%26gt; 2MeV) electron fluxes increased immediately at L*similar to 4.5 and 4.5MeV flux increased %26gt; 90 times at L*=4 over 5h. Although plasmasphere expansion brings the enhanced radiation belt multi-MeV fluxes inside the plasmasphere several hours postsubstorm, we localize their prompt reenergization during the event to regions outside the plasmasphere.

• 出版日期2014-1-16
• 单位Los Alamos; MIT