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Bortnik et al. 2006
Bortnik, J., Thorne, R.M., O'Brien, T.P., Green, J.C., Strangeway, R.J., Shprits, Y.Y. and Baker, D.N. (2006). Observation of two distinct, rapid loss mechanisms during the 20 November 2003 radiation belt dropout event. Journal of Geophysical Research 111: doi: 10.1029/2006JA011802. issn: 0148-0227.

The relativistic electron dropout event on 20 November 2003 is studied using data from a number of satellites including SAMPEX, HEO, ACE, POES, and FAST. The observations suggest that the dropout may have been caused by two separate mechanisms that operate at high and low L-shells, respectively, with a separation at L ~ 5. At high L-shells (L > 5), the dropout is approximately independent of energy and consistent with losses to the magnetopause aided by the Dst effect and outward radial diffusion which can deplete relativistic electrons down to lower L-shells. At low L-shells (L < 5), the dropout is strongly energy-dependent, with the higher-energy electrons being affected most. Moreover, large precipitation bands of both relativistic electrons and energetic protons are observed at low L-shells which are consistent with intense pitch angle scattering driven by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and may result in a rapid loss of relativistic electrons near the plasmapause in the dusk sector or in plumes of enhanced density.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Radiation belts, Magnetospheric Physics, Energetic particles, precipitating, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetosphere, inner, Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma waves and instabilities, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetic storms and substorms
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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