Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing

Abstract Magnetopause shadowing (MPS) effect could drive a concurrent dropout of radiation belt electrons and ring current protons. However, its relative role in the dropout of both plasma populations has not been well quantified. In this work, we study the simultaneous dropout of MeV electrons and...

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Main Authors: Xingzhi Lyu, Weichao Tu, Jinbei Huang, Qianli Ma, Zhi‐Gu Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106681
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author Xingzhi Lyu
Weichao Tu
Jinbei Huang
Qianli Ma
Zhi‐Gu Li
author_facet Xingzhi Lyu
Weichao Tu
Jinbei Huang
Qianli Ma
Zhi‐Gu Li
author_sort Xingzhi Lyu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Magnetopause shadowing (MPS) effect could drive a concurrent dropout of radiation belt electrons and ring current protons. However, its relative role in the dropout of both plasma populations has not been well quantified. In this work, we study the simultaneous dropout of MeV electrons and 100s keV protons during an intense geomagnetic storm in May 2017. A radial diffusion model with an event‐specific last closed drift shell is used to simulate the MPS loss of both populations. The model well captures the fast shadowing loss of both populations at L* > 4.6, while the loss at L* < 4.6, possibly due to the electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave scattering, is not captured. The observed butterfly pitch angle distributions of electron fluxes in the initial loss phase are well reproduced by the model. The initial proton losses at low pitch angles are underestimated, potentially also contributed by other mechanisms such as field line curvature scattering.
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spelling doaj-art-0fd0f2a184b14ffd86e5fff5f5a4de3b2025-08-20T03:11:03ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-01-01512n/an/a10.1029/2023GL106681Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause ShadowingXingzhi Lyu0Weichao Tu1Jinbei Huang2Qianli Ma3Zhi‐Gu Li4Department of Physics and Astronomy West Virginia University Morgantown WV USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy West Virginia University Morgantown WV USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy West Virginia University Morgantown WV USADepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USADepartment of Physics and Astronomy West Virginia University Morgantown WV USAAbstract Magnetopause shadowing (MPS) effect could drive a concurrent dropout of radiation belt electrons and ring current protons. However, its relative role in the dropout of both plasma populations has not been well quantified. In this work, we study the simultaneous dropout of MeV electrons and 100s keV protons during an intense geomagnetic storm in May 2017. A radial diffusion model with an event‐specific last closed drift shell is used to simulate the MPS loss of both populations. The model well captures the fast shadowing loss of both populations at L* > 4.6, while the loss at L* < 4.6, possibly due to the electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave scattering, is not captured. The observed butterfly pitch angle distributions of electron fluxes in the initial loss phase are well reproduced by the model. The initial proton losses at low pitch angles are underestimated, potentially also contributed by other mechanisms such as field line curvature scattering.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106681radiation belt electronsring current protonsmagnetopause shadowingsimultaneous dropout
spellingShingle Xingzhi Lyu
Weichao Tu
Jinbei Huang
Qianli Ma
Zhi‐Gu Li
Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing
Geophysical Research Letters
radiation belt electrons
ring current protons
magnetopause shadowing
simultaneous dropout
title Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing
title_full Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing
title_fullStr Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing
title_short Modeling the Simultaneous Dropout of Energetic Electrons and Protons by Magnetopause Shadowing
title_sort modeling the simultaneous dropout of energetic electrons and protons by magnetopause shadowing
topic radiation belt electrons
ring current protons
magnetopause shadowing
simultaneous dropout
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106681
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