Abstract
We report on the POLAR/CEPPAD discovery of a trapped, 60°<θ<120° pitch angle electron population in the outer cusp (7−9+ Re), whose energetic electron component extends from below 30 keV to ∼2 MeV. Because the time variability in the outer cusp precludes mapping with POLAR, we have carried out test particle simulations using the Tsyganenko 1996 model (T96) to demonstrate the trapping of these energy electrons in the outer cusp region and the resonant frequencies of its trapped motion. We discuss the boundaries and regions of the cusp trap and show that it is analogous to the dipole trap. We show that the phase space densities observed there are equal or greater than the phase space densities observed in the radiation belts at constant magnetic moment, thus allowing the possibility of diffusive filling of the radiation belts from the cusp
Department
Physics
Publication Date
6-1998
Journal Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1029/98GL01399
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Sheldon, R. B.; Spence, Harlan E.; Sullivan, J. D.; Fritz, T. A,; and Chen, Jiasheng, "The discovery of trapped energetic electrons in the outer cusp" (1998). Geophysical Research Letters. 292.
https://scholars.unh.edu/physics_facpub/292
Rights
Copyright 1998 by the American Geophysical Union.