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Observation of Chorus Waves by the Van Allen Probes: Dependence on Solar Wind Parameters and Scale SizeHighly energetic electrons in the Earths Van Allen radiation belts can cause serious damage to spacecraft electronic systems and affect the atmospheric composition if they precipitate into the upper atmosphere. Whistler mode chorus waves have attracted significant attention in recent decades for their crucial role in the acceleration and loss of energetic electrons that ultimately change the dynamics of the radiation belts. The distribution of these waves in the inner magnetosphere is commonly presented as a function of geomagnetic activity. However, geomagnetic indices are nonspecific parameters that are compiled from imperfectly covered ground based measurements. The present study uses wave data from the two Van Allen Probes to present the distribution of lower band chorus waves not only as functions of single geomagnetic index and solar wind parameters but also as functions of combined parameters. Also the current study takes advantage of the unique equatorial orbit of the Van Allen Probes to estimate the average scale size of chorus wave packets, during close separations between the two spacecraft, as a function of radial distance, magnetic latitude, and geomagnetic activity, respectively. Results show that the average scale size of chorus wave packets is approximately 13002300 km. The results also show that the inclusion of combined parameters can provide better representation of the chorus wave distributions in the inner magnetosphere and therefore can further improve our knowledge of the acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons.
Document ID
20170007771
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Aryan, Homayon
(Universities Space Research Association Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Sibeck, David
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Balikhin, Michael
(Sheffield Univ. United Kingdom)
Agapitov, Oleksiy
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Kletzing, Craig
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2017
Publication Date
August 13, 2016
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Publisher: AGU
Volume: 121
Issue: 8
ISSN: 2169-9380
e-ISSN: 2169-9402
Subject Category
Space Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN41106
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNH15CO48B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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