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VLF transmission induced slot electron precipitation
Author(s) -
Vampola A. L.
Publication year - 1977
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/gl004i012p00569
Subject(s) - electron precipitation , magnetosphere , hiss , electron , physics , van allen radiation belt , field line , geophysics , computational physics , plasmasphere , flux (metallurgy) , range (aeronautics) , pitch angle , van allen probes , atomic physics , plasma , nuclear physics , materials science , metallurgy , composite material
Analysis of electron observations in the drift and bounce loss cones of the slot region of the magnetosphere indicates that the predominant mode in which electrons in the 100 to 400 keV energy range arrive in the drift loss cone is via discrete events. These events are usually traceable back to the vicinity of a high‐power‐level VLF transmitter. No gradual buildup of electron flux, proceeding eastward from the South Atlantic Anomaly, is observed. Estimates of the loss rate due to the discrete events show that this process can result in a depletion of 50% per day of the electron flux in the slot region. The wave‐particle interaction probably occurs relatively low on the field line ( ≈ 30° to 50°) because of the relationship of particle energies and wave frequencies involved. Additional scattering of the particles near the equator, either by power‐line harmonic emissions or naturally occuring ELF hiss, may be required to transport the particles to the lower interaction region.