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Observation of Relativistic Electron Microbursts in Conjunction with Intense Radiation Belt Whistler-Mode WavesWe present multi-satellite observations of large amplitude radiation belt whistler-mode waves and relativistic electron precipitation. On separate occasions during the Wind petal orbits and STEREO phasing orbits, Wind and STEREO recorded intense whistler-mode waves in the outer nightside equatorial radiation belt with peak-to-peak amplitudes exceeding 300 mV/m. During these intervals of intense wave activity, SAMPEX recorded relativistic electron microbursts in near magnetic conjunction with Wind and STEREO. This evidence of microburst precipitation occurring at the same time and at nearly the same magnetic local time and L-shell with a bursty temporal structure similar to that of the observed large amplitude wave packets suggests a causal connection between the two phenomena. Simulation studies corroborate this idea, showing that nonlinear wave.particle interactions may result in rapid energization and scattering on timescales comparable to those of the impulsive relativistic electron precipitation.
Document ID
20110011894
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Kersten, K.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Cattell, C. A.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Breneman, A.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Goetz, K.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Kellogg, P. J.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Wygant, J. R.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Wilson, L. B., III
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Blake, J. B.
(Aerospace Corp. El Segundo, CA, United States)
Looper, M. D.
(Aerospace Corp. El Segundo, CA, United States)
Roth, I.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
April 28, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 38
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.4266.2011
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX09AG82G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-01072
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX07AF23G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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