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Energetic Electrons as a Field Line Topology Tracer in the High Latitude Boundary/CUSP Region: Cluster Rapid Observations

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Abstract

Energetic electrons (e.g., 50 keV) travel along field lines with a high speed of around 20 R E s−1. These swift electrons trace out field lines in the magnetosphere in a rather short time, and therefore can provide nearly instantaneous information about the changes in the field configuration in regions of geospace. The energetic electrons in the high latitude boundary regions (including the cusp) have been examined in detail by using Cluster/RAPID data for four consecutive high latitude/cusp crossings between 16 March and 19 March 2001. Energetic electrons with high and stable fluxes were observed in the time interval when the IMF had a predominately positive B z component. These electrons appeared to be associated with a lower plasma density exhibiting no obvious tailward plasma flow (<20 keV). On the other hand, no electrons or only spike-like electron events have been observed in the cusp region during southward IMF. At that time, the plasma density was as high as that in the magnetosheath and was associated with a clear tailward flow. The fact that no stable energetic electron fluxes were observed during southward IMF indicates that the cusp has an open field line geometry. The observations indicate that both the South and North high latitude magnetospheric boundary regions (including both North and South cusp) can be energetic particle trapping regions. The energetic electron observations provide new ways to investigate the dynamic cusp processes. Finally, trajectory tracing of test particles has been performed using the Tsyganenko 96 model; this demonstrates that energetic particles (both ions and electrons) may be indeed trapped in the high latitude magnetosphere.

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Abbreviations

ISEE:

international sun–earth explorers

HEOS:

highly eccentric orbiting satellite

ACE:

advanced composition explorer

IMF:

interplanetary magnetic field

IMP:

interplanetary monitoring platform

MHD:

magnetohydrodynamics

MLT:

magnetic local time

RAPID:

Research with Adaptive Particle Imaging Detectors

SOHO:

Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center For Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Q. G. Zong & T. A. Fritz

  2. Max-Planck-lnstitut für Aeronomie, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

    A. Korth & P. W. Daly

  3. Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, Imperial College, London, UK

    M. Dunlop & A. Balogh

  4. Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, LA

    J. F. Fennell

  5. Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    J. D. Sullivan

  6. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

    R. W. H. Friedel

  7. CESR, Toulouse, France

    H. Reme

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  1. Q. G. Zong
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  2. T. A. Fritz
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  9. R. W. H. Friedel
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  10. H. Reme
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Zong, Q.G., Fritz, T.A., Korth, A. et al. Energetic Electrons as a Field Line Topology Tracer in the High Latitude Boundary/CUSP Region: Cluster Rapid Observations. Surv Geophys 26, 215–240 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-005-1879-z

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