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Inversion of the Energetic Electron “Zebra Stripe” Pattern Present in the Earth's Inner Belt and Slot Region: First Observations and Interpretation
Author(s) -
Lejosne Solène,
Mozer F. S.
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1029/2020gl088564
Subject(s) - physics , spectral line , maxima and minima , electron , planet , kinetic energy , computational physics , van allen radiation belt , maxima , population , geophysics , geology , astrophysics , magnetosphere , classical mechanics , astronomy , magnetic field , art , mathematical analysis , demography , mathematics , quantum mechanics , sociology , performance art , art history
Energetic electron spectra in the Earth's inner belt and slot region usually display extrema at some energies that form uninterrupted lines when color‐coded in two‐dimensional maps in which one axis represents the normalized equatorial distance, L , and the other axis represents kinetic energy. These patterns are called “zebra stripes.” This letter presents the first observations of zebra stripe inversions: Lines of local minima in the electron spectra at low L values (below L = 2 ) turn into lines of local maxima in the electron spectra at higher L values, and vice versa. The observations are interpreted by specifying the connection between fluctuations in directional differential fluxes and radial disturbances of trapped population drift motion. The analysis highlights the role of flux energy‐ and radial‐gradients when it comes to determining radial motion from particle data. The underlying method applies to a variety of problems, whether at Earth or at the outer planets.