Ultra-low-frequency wave-driven diffusion of radiation belt relativistic electrons

Zhenpeng Su (), Hui Zhu, Fuliang Xiao, Q.-G. Zong, X.-Z. Zhou, Huinan Zheng, Yuming Wang, Shui Wang, Y.-X. Hao, Zhonglei Gao, Zhaoguo He, D. N. Baker, H. E. Spence, G. D. Reeves, J. B. Blake and J. R. Wygant
Additional contact information
Zhenpeng Su: CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China
Hui Zhu: CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China
Fuliang Xiao: School of Physics and Electronic Sciences, Changsha University of Science and Technology
Q.-G. Zong: Institute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University
X.-Z. Zhou: Institute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University
Huinan Zheng: CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China
Yuming Wang: CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China
Shui Wang: CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China
Y.-X. Hao: Institute of Space Physics and Applied Technology, Peking University
Zhonglei Gao: CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China
Zhaoguo He: Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School
D. N. Baker: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder
H. E. Spence: Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire
G. D. Reeves: Space Science and Applications Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. B. Blake: The Aerospace Corporation
J. R. Wygant: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Van Allen radiation belts are typically two zones of energetic particles encircling the Earth separated by the slot region. How the outer radiation belt electrons are accelerated to relativistic energies remains an unanswered question. Recent studies have presented compelling evidence for the local acceleration by very-low-frequency (VLF) chorus waves. However, there has been a competing theory to the local acceleration, radial diffusion by ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves, whose importance has not yet been determined definitively. Here we report a unique radiation belt event with intense ULF waves but no detectable VLF chorus waves. Our results demonstrate that the ULF waves moved the inner edge of the outer radiation belt earthward 0.3 Earth radii and enhanced the relativistic electron fluxes by up to one order of magnitude near the slot region within about 10 h, providing strong evidence for the radial diffusion of radiation belt relativistic electrons.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10096

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