Energetic electrons along the high-latitude magnetopause
A case study is presented to determine the source of the energetic electron layer frequently observed along the high-latitude magnetopause. Measurements by the Cluster spacecraft show bursts of field-aligned electrons occurring during time periods with high potential for dayside reconnection. The...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2012-06-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/30/1003/2012/angeo-30-1003-2012.pdf |
| Summary: | A case study is presented to determine the source of the energetic electron
layer frequently observed along the high-latitude magnetopause. Measurements
by the Cluster spacecraft show bursts of field-aligned electrons occurring
during time periods with high potential for dayside reconnection. These
properties are compared with the expected signatures from several sources
including escape from the exterior cusp, acceleration in a reconnection
region, and release from the dayside trapping region through reconnection.
The observed properties are most consistent with the electrons being released
from the magnetosphere due to reconnection. In this model the electrons would
flow along the newly reconnected IMF draped along the magnetopause and
propagate along the high-latitude magnetopause. These observations
demonstrate an active source for populating the energetic particle layer
frequently observed along and just outside the high-latitude magnetopause. |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |