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

Foster J. C. | Zendy; Erickson P. J. | Zendy; Baker D. N. | Zendy; Claudepierre S. G. | Zendy; Kletzing C. A. | Zendy; Kurth W. | Zendy; Reeves G. D. | Zendy; Thaller S. A. | Zendy; Spence H. E. | Zendy; Shprits Y. Y. | Zendy; Wygant J. R. | Zendy

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

Author(s) -

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.

Publication year - 2013

Publication title -

geophysical research letters

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007

H-Index - 273

eISSN - 1944-8007

pISSN - 0094-8276

DOI - 10.1002/2013gl058438

Subject(s) - plasmasphere , substorm , van allen radiation belt , physics , electron , van allen probes , magnetosphere , geophysics , population , radiation , flux (metallurgy) , geomagnetic storm , astrophysics , magnetic field , earth's magnetic field , nuclear physics , demography , materials science , quantum mechanics , sociology , metallurgy

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 ~6 Re 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 100 keV electron fluxes and a 100 times increase in VLF wave intensity. The 100 keV electrons and intense VLF waves provide a seed population and energy source for subsequent radiation belt enhancements. Highly relativistic (>2 MeV) electron fluxes increased immediately at L* ~ 4.5 and 4.5 MeV flux increased >90 times at L* = 4 over 5 h. 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.

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