Energy dependent dynamics of keV to MeV electrons in the inner zone, outer zone, and slot regions

Abstract:

We present observations that illustrate the energy-dependence and L-shell dependence of radiation belt dynamics. We survey events in 2013 and analyze individual events in more detail. The survey data show: (a) Lower-energy electrons are enhanced more often than higher energies. (b) Events that fill the slot region are more common at lower energies. (c) Enhancements of electrons in the inner zone are more common at lower energies. And (d) even when events do not fully fill the slot region, enhancements at lower-energies tend to extend to lower L-shells than higher energies. The outer zone, inner zone, and slot region all occupy regions of space that are strongly energy dependent. During enhancement events the outer zone extends to lower L-shells at lower energies and higher L-shells at higher energies. The inner zone shows the opposite with an outer boundary at higher L-shells for lower energies. Both boundaries are nearly straight in log(energy) vs. L-shell space. At energies below a few hundred keV radiation belt electron penetration through the slot region into the inner zone is commonplace but the number and frequency of “slot filling” events decreases with increasing energy. The inner zone is enhanced only at energies that penetrate through the slot. Analysis shows that at least three processes may determine which electrons penetrate into the slot and inner zone: (1) enhanced convective electric fields at low L-shells, (2) impulsive, substorm-associated injections at low L-shells, and (3) slower radial diffusion and interaction with plasmaspheric hiss. These new observations challenge some of our long-held pictures of what the radiation belts look like and how they behave.