Electron Pitch-Angle Scattering in the Outer Zone During Magnetically Disturbed Times.
Abstract
Thorne and Kennel have recently proposed that the rapid loss of energetic electrons in the outer zone observed during magnetic storms is due to pitch-angle scattering arising from a resonant interaction with Doppler-shifted ion cyclotron waves generated by ring current protons. Examination of energetic electron flux pitch-angle distributions obtained by instrumentation on OV3-3 (1966-70A) reveals a number of events which meet most of the requirements of the Thorne-Kennel precipitation mechanism. Primary among these are: narrow (delta L approximately equal to 0.5) spatial distribution of precipitation at and just inside the plasmapause; more rapid scattering of energetic electrons (E > 1.5 MeV) than low energy electrons (E approximately equal to 300 keV); occurrence of the precipitation predominantly at local evening. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 15, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0727003
Entities
People
- Alfred L. Vampola
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation