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The CUSP as a Source of Magnetospheric ParticlesObservations made by the Polar satellite have shown that plasma of solar wind magnetosheath origin is rammed into the high altitude polar cusp creating a diamagnetic cavity of large dimensions. The Earth's dipole field can be excluded from this region in it turbulent manner with the magnitude of the field strength reaching close to zero nT at times. At such times energetic particles are produced in this region in intensities which exceed those measured in the trapping regions of the magnetosphere beyond L = 6.5. These particles can then flow back out of the cusp along field lines that form the magnetopause. A fraction of these particles can enter the magnetosphere along the magnetopause on the dusk and dawn flanks. Due to existing gradients in the geomagnetic field, cusp accelerated ions can enter the magnetosphere along the dawn flank and electrons along the dusk flank. For those particles entering near the geomagnetic equatorial plane with pitch angles close to ninety degrees they will drift along contours of constant magnetic field strength reaching deep into the nightside inner magnetosphere. From observations made by the Polar ATS-6, and ISEE satellites it is argued that this cusp source appears to be capable of providing energetic ions to the magnetosphere and possibly energetic electrons which form the source population of the Subsequent radial diffusion and formation of the radiation belts.
Document ID
20000040061
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Fritz, Theodore A.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA United States)
Chen, Jiasheng
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Radiation Measurements
Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd.
Volume: 30
ISSN: 1350-4487
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Radiation Environment Modeling: New Phenomena and Approaches
Location: Moscow
Country: Russia
Start Date: October 7, 1997
End Date: October 9, 1997
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-7677
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-2578
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-7841
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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