Effects of whistler mode hiss waves in March 2013

We present simulations of the loss of radiation belt electrons by resonant pitch angle diffusion caused by whistler mode hiss waves for March 2013. Pitch angle diffusion coefficients are computed from the wave properties and the ambient plasma data obtained by the Van Allen Probes with a resolution...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Space physics 2017-07, Vol.122 (7), p.7433-7462
Main Authors: Ripoll, J.‐F., Santolík, O., Reeves, G. D., Kurth, W. S., Denton, M. H., Loridan, V., Thaller, S. A., Kletzing, C. A., Turner, D. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Belt drives
Computer simulation
Diffusion coefficient
diffusion coefficients
electron lifetimes
Energy
energy structure
Hiss
MagEIS flux observations
Plasmasphere
Radiation
Radiation belt electrons
Radiation belts
Simulation
Transport
van Allen probes
wave particle interactions
whistler mode hiss
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Summary:We present simulations of the loss of radiation belt electrons by resonant pitch angle diffusion caused by whistler mode hiss waves for March 2013. Pitch angle diffusion coefficients are computed from the wave properties and the ambient plasma data obtained by the Van Allen Probes with a resolution of 8 h and 0.1 L shell. Loss rates follow a complex dynamic structure, imposed by the wave and plasma properties. Hiss effects can be strong, with minimum lifetimes (of ~1 day) moving from energies of ~100 keV at L ~ 5 up to ~2 MeV at L ~ 2 and stop abruptly, similarly to the observed energy‐dependent inner belt edge. Periods when the plasmasphere extends beyond L ~ 5 favor long‐lasting hiss losses from the outer belt. Such loss rates are embedded in a reduced Fokker‐Planck code and validated against Magnetic Electron and Ion Spectrometer observations of the belts at all energy. Results are complemented with a sensitivity study involving different radial diffusion and lifetime models. Validation is carried out globally at all L shells and energies. The good agreement between simulations and observations demonstrates that hiss waves drive the slot formation during quiet times. Combined with transport, they sculpt the energy structure of the outer belt into an “S shape.” Low energy electrons (
ISSN:2169-9380
2169-9402
DOI:10.1002/2017JA024139