Using BARREL as part of the Heliophysics System Observatory to Probe the Microphysics and Global Properties of Energetic Electron Precipitation

Abstract:

In the inner magnetosphere where the plasmasphere, ring current and radiation belts co-exist, energy and momentum are exchanged between different plasma populations by plasma waves. Resonant interaction with these waves can lead to rapid loss of radiation belt and ring current electrons to the atmosphere. Recent work is rapidly expanding our understanding of energetic (~20 keV - 10 MeV) electron precipitation. In particular, the combination of BARREL multi-point balloon measurements with measurements from equatorial spacecraft (e.g. Van Allen Probes, LANL, THEMIS, GOES), LEO spacecraft (e.g. POES, CSSWE), and ground-based instruments (e.g. riometer, VLF) is providing a unique opportunity to study wave-particle interactions, and to quantify the spatial scale of energetic precipitation. We present a summary of recent results from BARREL combined with in situ measurements to quantitatively test models of wave-particle interactions. We also show combined BARREL and ground-based data that probes the spatial structure and evolution of relativistic precipitation.