• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2006

We report three sawtooth oscillation events observed at geosynchronous orbit where we find quasi-periodic (every 2-3 hours) sudden flux increases followed by slow flux decreases at the energy levels of ${\sim}50-400keV$. For these three sawtooth events, we have examined variations of the outer boundary of the outer radiation belt. In order to determine L values of the outer boundary, we have used data of relativistic electron flux observed by the SAMPEX satellite. We find that the outer boundary of the outer radiation belt oscillates periodically being consistent with sawtooth oscillation phases. Specifically, the outer boundary of the outer radiation belt expands (namely, the boundary L value increases) following the sawtooth particle flux enhancement of each tooth, and then contracts (namely, the boundary L value decreases) while the sawtooth flux decreases gradually until the next flux enhancement. On the other hand, it is repeatedly seen that the asymmetry of the magnetic field intensity between dayside and nightside decreases (increases) due to the dipolarization (the stretching) on the nightside as the sawtooth flux increases (decreases). This implies that the periodic magnetic field variations during the sawtooth oscillations are likely responsible for the expansion-contraction oscillations of the outer boundary of the outer radiation belt.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2014

The Earth's outer radiation belt often suffers from drastic changes in the electron fluxes. Since the electrons can be a potential threat to satellites, efforts have long been made to model and predict electron flux variations. In this paper, we describe a prediction model for the outer belt electrons that we have recently developed at Chungbuk National University. The model is based on a one-dimensional radial diffusion equation with observationally determined specifications of a few major ingredients in the following way. First, the boundary condition of the outer edge of the outer belt is specified by empirical functions that we determine using the THEMIS satellite observations of energetic electrons near the boundary. Second, the plasmapause locations are specified by empirical functions that we determine using the electron density data of THEMIS. Third, the model incorporates the local acceleration effect by chorus waves into the one-dimensional radial diffusion equation. We determine this chorus acceleration effect by first obtaining an empirical formula of chorus intensity as a function of drift shell parameter $L^*$, incorporating it as a source term in the one-dimensional diffusion equation, and lastly calibrating the term to best agree with observations of a certain interval. We present a comparison of the model run results with and without the chorus acceleration effect, demonstrating that the chorus effect has been incorporated into the model to a reasonable degree.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.134.1-134.1
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• 2012

The radiation belt structure can be approximately reproduced by a form of diffusion equation, which takes into account the radial diffusion process as well as those in pitch angle and energy. The solution of the equation depends on several factors including initial and boundary conditions, diffusion coefficients, and plasmapause location. In this paper, we have attempted to determine a set of approximate functions for the energetic electron fluxes near the outer edge of the outer belt in terms of solar wind variable. We used the electron flux data from SST onboard the THEMIS spacecraft and determined its correlation with solar wind conditions in a systematic way. The functions were determined separately for different energy channels from ~30 keV up to 719 keV. Our determination of these functions allows us to predict the radial boundary condition for the electron flux, which can be implemented in a forecast model.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2021

In this paper, we present observations of the Space Radiation Detectors (SRDs) onboard the Next Generation Small Satellite-1 (NEXTSat-1) satellite. The SRDs, which are a part of the Instruments for the study of Stable/Storm-time Space (ISSS), consist of the Medium-Energy Particle Detector (MEPD) and the High-Energy Particle Detector (HEPD). The MEPD can detect electrons, ions, and neutrals with energies ranging from 20 to 400 keV, and the HEPD can detect electrons over an energy range from 0.35 to 2 MeV. In this paper, we report an event where particle flux enhancements due to substorm injections are clearly identified in the MEPD A observations at energies of tens of keV. Additionally, we report a specific example observation of the electron distributions over a wide energy range in which we identify electron spatial distributions with energies of tens to hundreds of keV from the MEPD and with energy ranging up to a few MeV from the HEPD in the slot region and outer radiation belts. In addition, for an ~1.5-year period, we confirm that the HEPD successfully observed the well-known outer radiation belt electron flux distributions and their variations in time and L shell in a way consistent with the geomagnetic disturbance levels. Last, we find that the inner edge of the outer radiation belt is mostly coincident with the plasmapause locations in L, somewhat more consistent at subrelativistic energies than at relativistic energies. Based on these example events, we conclude that the SRD observations are of reliable quality, so they are useful for understanding the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere, including substorms and radiation belt variations.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.115.2-115.2
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• 2012

In this study we have used the data of various instruments onboard the THEMIS spacecraft to study the characteristics of the outer radiation belt during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24. The most astonishing result is that we discovered four long-term (a month or so) periods during which the belt has nearly disappeared. The first disappearance started late 2008, followed by reappearance in ~a month, and three more similar events repeated until early 2010 when the belt has reappeared. This is well revealed at 719 keV electrons, which is the currently available uppermost energy channel from the THEMIS SST observation, but also seen at even lower energies. Overall consistent features were confirmed using the NOAA-POES observations. The vanished belt periods are associated with extremely weak solar wind conditions, low geomagnetic disturbances (in terms of Kp and AE/AL), greatly suppressed wave (ULF and chorus) activities, greatly reduced storm and substorm activities (little source particle supply), and expanded plasmapause locations. The direct observations of such events shed light on the fundamental question of the origin of the radiation belt, which is the main focus of our presentation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.17-17
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.145-158
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• 2022

The dynamics of the outer zone radiation belt has received a lot of attention mainly due to the correlation between the occurrence of enhancing relativistic electron flux and spacecraft operation anomalies or even failures (e.g., Baker et al. 1994). Relativistic electron events are often observed during great storms associated with ultra low frequency (ULF) waves. For example, a large buildup of relativistic electrons was observed during the great storm of March 24, 1991 (e.g., Li et al. 1993; Hudson et al. 1995; Mann et al. 2013). However, the dominant processes which accelerate magnetospheric radiation belt electrons to MeV energies are not well understood. In this paper, we present observations of Pc5 ULF waves in the recovery phase of the Bastille day storm of July 16, 2000 and electron and proton flux simultaneously oscillating with the same frequencies as the waves. The mechanism for the observed electron and proton flux modulations is examined using ground-based and satellite observations. During this storm time, multiple packets of discrete frequency Pc5 ULF waves appeared associated with energetic particle flux oscillations. We model the drift paths of electrons and protons to determine if the particles drift through the ULF wave to understand why some particle fluxes are modulated by the ULF waves and others are not. We also analyze the flux oscillations of electrons and protons as a function of energy to determine if the particle modulations are caused by a ULF wave drift resonance or advection of a particle density gradient. We suggest that the energetic electron and proton modulations by Pc5 ULF waves provide further evidence in support of the important role that ULF waves play in outer radiation belt dyanamics during storm times.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.45-60
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• 2019

The Earth's outer radiation belt has long received considerable attention mainly because the MeV electron flux in the belt varies often dramatically and at various time scales. It is now widely accepted that the wave-particle interaction is one of the major mechanisms responsible for such flux variations. The wave-particle interaction can accelerate electrons to MeV energies, explaining the observed flux increase events, and can also scatter the electrons' motion into the loss cone, resulting in atmospheric precipitation and thus contributing to flux dropouts. In this paper, we provide a review of the current state of research on relativistic electron scattering and precipitation due to the interaction with electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the inner magnetosphere. The review is intended to cover progress made over the last ~15 years in the theory and simulations of various issues, including quasilinear resonance diffusion, nonlinear interactions, nonresonant interactions, effects of finite normal angle on pitch angle scattering, effects due to rising tone emission, and ways to scatter near-equatorial pitch angle electrons. The review concludes with suggestions of a few promising topics for future research.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.295-301
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• 2014

Whistler mode chorus wave is considered to play a critical role in accelerating and precipitating the electrons in the outer radiation belt. In this paper we test a conventional scenario of triggering chorus using THEMIS satellite observations of waves and particles. Specifically, we test if the chorus onset is consistent with development of anisotropy in the electron phase space density (PSD). After analyzing electron PSD for 73 chorus events, we find that, for ~80 % of them, their onsets are indeed associated with development of the positive anisotropy in PSD where the pitch angle distribution of electron velocity peaks at 90 degrees. This PSD anisotropy is prominent mainly at the electron energy range of ${\leq}$ ~20 keV. Interestingly, we further find that there is sometimes a time delay among energies in the increases of the anisotropy: A development of the positive anisotropy occurs earlier by several minutes for lower energy than for an adjacent higher energy.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.93.1-93.1
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• 2013

The Earth's radiation belts consist of an inner belt and an outer belt, being separated by the slot region. It is well known that the variations of the inner edge of the outer belt and the location of the plasmapause (Lpp) are closely related to each other. Different waves exist inside and outside the plasmasphere, playing different roles in the particle dynamics. The plasmapause is well known to be influenced by solar wind conditions and geomagnetic disturbances. Therefore, it is important to precisely determine the location of the plasmapause and develop a prediction scheme. In this study, we identified the location of the plasmapause using the plasma density data from the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms (THEMIS). The plasmapause is determined by requiring density gradient of a factor of 15 within L-change = 0.5. We statistically determined Lpp as a function of preceding geomagnetic indices. Also, we determined the relations between Lpp and preceding solar wind conditions by estimating correlation coefficients. These relations give us predicting models of Lpp as a function of preceding solar wind parameters and geomagnetic indices. As our database covers a period over the ascending phase from near-sunspot minimum, our statistical results differ somewhat from previous works that cover near-sunspot maximum. Finally, we give some comparative examples obtained from the Van Allen Probes data.