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Simulations of Electron Energization and Injection by BBFs Using High‐Resolution LFM MHD Fields
Author(s) -
Eshetu W. W.,
Lyon J. G.,
Hudson M. K.,
Wiltberger M. J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2018ja025789
Subject(s) - physics , magnetohydrodynamics , electron , adiabatic process , computational physics , magnetohydrodynamic drive , magnetic field , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
We study electron injection and energization by bursty bulk flows (BBFs), by tracing electron trajectories using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) field output from the Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (LFM) code. The LFM MHD simulations were performed using idealized solar wind conditions to produce BBFs. We show that BBFs can inject energetic electrons of few to 100 keV from the magnetotatail beyond −24 R E to inward of geosynchronous, while accelerating them in the process. We also show the dependence of energization and injection on the initial relative position of the electrons to the magnetic field structure of the BBF, the initial pitch angle, and the initial energy. In addition, we have shown that the process can be nonadiabatic with violation of the first adiabatic invariant ( μ ). Further, we discuss the mechanism of energization and injection in order to give generalized insight into the process.