Physics
Scientific paper
May 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995jgr...100.7759b&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 100, no. A5, p. 7759-7769
Physics
17
Atmospheric Physics, Electron Clouds, Electron Energy, Magnetically Trapped Particles, Plasmasphere, Crres (Satellite), Dmsp Satellites, Electric Fields, Geomagnetism, Injection, Plasma Probes, Polar Caps
Scientific paper
The low-energy plasma analyzer on the Combined Release Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) has detected significant fluxes of 10-eV to 30-keV electrons trapped on plasmaspheric field lines. On energy-versus-time spectrograms these electrons appear as banded structures that can span the 2 less than L less than 6 range of magnetic shells. We present an example of banded electron structures, encountered in the nightside plasmasphere during the magnetically quiet January 30, 1991. Empirical analysis suggests that two clouds of low-energy electrons were injected from the plasma sheet to L less than 4 on January 26 and 27 while the convective electric field was elevated. The energies of electrons in the first cloud were greater than those in the second. Defence Meteorological Satellite Program Flight 8 (DMSP F8) measurements show that after the second injection, the polar cap potential rapidly decreased from greater than 50 to less than 20 kV. Subsequent encounters with the lower-energy cloud on alternating CRRES orbits over the next 2 days showed a progressive, earthward movement of the electrons' inner boundary. Whistler and electron cyclotron harmonic emissions accompanied the most intense manifestations of cloud electrons. The simplest explanation of these measurements is that after initial injection, the Alfven boundary moved outward, leaving the cloud electrons on closed drift paths. Subsequent fluctuations of the convective electric field penetrated the plasmasphere, transporting cloud elements inward. The magnetic shell distribution of electron temperatures in one of the banded structures suggests that radiative energy losses may be comparable in magnitude to gains due to adiabatic compression.
Burke William J.
Hardy David A.
Holeman Ernest G.
Rubin Allen G.
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