An empirical model of the global distribution of plasmaspheric hiss based on Van Allen Probes EMFISIS measurements

Using wave measurements from the EMFISIS instrument onboard Van Allen Probes,we investigate statistically the spatial distributions of the intensity of plasmaspheric hiss waves.To reproduce these empirical results,we establish a fitting model that is a thirdorder polynomial function of L-shell,magnetic local time(MLT),magnetic latitude(MLAT),and AE*.Quantitative comparisons indicate that the model’s fitting functions can reflect favorably the major empirical features of the global distribution of hiss wave intensity,including substorm dependence and the MLT asymmetry.Our results therefore provide a useful analytic model that can be readily employed in future simulations of global radiation belt electron dynamics under the impact of plasmaspheric hiss waves in geospace.

The 600 keV electron injections in the Earth's outer radiation belt:A statistical study

Relativistic electron injections are one of the mechanisms of relativistic(≥0.5 MeV) electron enhancements in the Earth’s outer radiation belt. In this study, we present a statistical observation of 600 keV electron injections in the outer radiation belt by using data from the Van Allen Probes. On the basis of the characteristics of different injections, 600 keV electron injections in the outer radiation belt were divided into pulsed electron injections and nonpulsed electron injections. The 600 keV electron injections were observed at 4.5 < L <6.4 under the geomagnetic conditions of 450 nT < AE < 1,450 nT. An L of ~4.5 is an inward limit for 600 keV electron injections. Before the electron injections, a flux negative L shell gradient for ≤0.6 MeV electrons or low electron fluxes in the injected region were observed. For600 keV electron injections at different L shells, the source populations from the Earth’s plasma sheet were different. For 600 keV electron injections at higher L shells, the source populations were higher energy electrons(~200 keV at X ~–9 R_(E)), whereas the source populations for 600 keV electron injections at lower L shells were lower energy electrons(~80 keV at X ~–9 R_(E)). These results are important to further our understanding of electron injections and rapid enhancements of 600 keV electrons in the Earth’s outer radiation belt.

Numerical simulation of chorus-driving acceleration of relativistic electrons at extremely low L-shell during geomagnetic storms

During 2018 major geomagnetic storm,relativistic electron enhancements in extremely low L-shell regions(reaching L∼3)have been reported based on observations of ZH-1 and Van Allen probes satellites,and the storm is highly likely to be accelerated by strong whistler-mode waves occurring near very low L-shell regions where the plasmapause was suppressed.It is very interesting to observe the intense chorus-accelerated electrons locating in such low L-shells and filling into the slot region.In this paper,we further perform numerical simulation by solving the two-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation based on the bounce-averaged diffusion rates.Numerical results demonstrate the evolution processes of the chorus-driven electron flux and confirm the flux enhancement in low pitch angle ranges(20◦-50◦)after the wave-particle interaction for tens of hours.The simulation result is consistent with the observation of potential butterfly pitch angle distributions of relativistic electrons from both ZH-1 and Van Allen probes.

A machine-learning-based electron density (MLED) model in the inner magnetosphere

Plasma density is an important factor in determining wave-particle interactions in the magnetosphere.We develop a machine-learning-based electron density(MLED)model in the inner magnetosphere using electron density data from Van Allen Probes between September 25,2012 and August 30,2019.This MLED model is a physics-based nonlinear network that employs fundamental physical principles to describe variations of electron density.It predicts the plasmapause location under different geomagnetic conditions,and models separately the electron densities of the plasmasphere and of the trough.We train the model using gradient descent and backpropagation algorithms,which are widely used to deal effectively with nonlinear relationships among physical quantities in space plasma environments.The model gives explicit expressions with few parameters and describes the associations of electron density with geomagnetic activity,solar cycle,and seasonal effects.Under various geomagnetic conditions,the electron densities calculated by this model agree well with empirical observations and provide a good description of plasmapause movement.This MLED model,which can be easily incorporated into previously developed radiation belt models,promises to be very helpful in modeling and improving forecasting of radiation belt electron dynamics.

Generation of simultaneous H^(+)and He^(+)band EMIC waves in the nightside radiation belt

Previous studies have shown that EMIC waves occur preferentially in the afternoon sector of the magnetosphere.Here we report obliquely propagating H^(+)and He^(+)band EMIC waves detected by Van Allen Probe B in the region of MLT=22.7–23.5 during the June 20,2013 substorm.Using the correlated energetic proton data,we present continuous calculations on EMIC wave growth rates along the inward orbit in the region L=5.5–4.2.The modeled growth rate shows remarkable agreement with the observed double band EMIC waves in both temporal and spatial evolutions.The current results demonstrate that H^(+)and He^(+)band EMIC waves can be simultaneously excited in the midnight sector under appropriate conditions.