Open AccessTimescales of relativistic electron enhancements in the slot region
Author(s) -
Nagai T.,
Yukimatu A. S.,
Matsuoka A.,
Asai K. T.,
Green J. C.,
Onsager T. G.,
Singer H. J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006ja011837
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , physics , van allen radiation belt , substorm , geomagnetic storm , storm , flux (metallurgy) , electron , geophysics , geosynchronous orbit , van allen probes , ring current , atmospheric sciences , computational physics , magnetic field , solar wind , meteorology , satellite , astronomy , nuclear physics , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
We present two event studies of significant enhancements of relativistic electron flux in the slot region of Earth's radiation belts during storms, using electron measurements from the Akebono spacecraft at high altitudes and NOAA 15, 16, 17, and 18 at low altitudes. These flux enhancements take place during the main phase of storms, and occur rapidly on timescales of less than 60 min. In association with storm time substorms, the magnetic field at geosynchronous altitude becomes highly stretched, intensifies, and then returns to a more dipolar configuration. The flux enhancements in the slot region are likely associated with these large changes in the nightside magnetic field configuration. The observations imply that rapid particle acceleration and/or transport processes operate in the inner (L < 3) magnetosphere in association with large substorms during the main phase of a storm.