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LaBelle 1987
LaBelle, J. (1987). Are fast atmospheric pulsations optical signatures of lightning-induced electron precipitation?. Geophysical Research Letters 14: doi: 10.1029/GL014i010p01023. issn: 0094-8276.

Fast Atmospheric Light Pulsations (FAP's) consist of millisecond time-scale bursts of light which have been observed at L=1.5--2.2 during searches for atmospheric light emissions associated with supernovae. Their statistics of occurrence resemble those of Lightning-induced Electron Precipitation (Trimpi events) observed at somewhat higher L-shells. Here we propose that FAP's are in fact optical signatures of LEP events associated with the ≥2 MeV electrons of the inner radiation belt (L≈1.4). These electrons would precipitate at low altitudes and could be modulated with time scales the order of 1 ms. The total loss rate of electrons from the inner belt resulting from these events would be comparable to, but somewhat smaller than, the loss rate due to Coulomb scattering.

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Geophysical Research Letters
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American Geophysical Union
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