Abstract During magnetospheric storms, radiation belt electrons are produced and then removed by collisions with the lower atmosphere on varying timescales. An efficient loss process is microbursts, strong, transient precipitation of electrons over a wide energy range, from tens of keV to subârelativistic and relativistic energies (100s keV and above). However, the detailed generation mechanism of microbursts, especially over subârelativistic and relativistic energies, remains unknown. Here, we show that these energetic electron microbursts may be caused by ducted whistlerâmode lowerâband chorus waves. Using observations of equatorial chorus waves nearby lowâaltitude precipitation as well as dataâdriven simulations, we demonstrate that the observed microbursts are the result of resonant interaction of electrons with ducted chorus waves rather than nonducted ones. Revealing the physical mechanism behind the microbursts advances our understanding of radiation belt dynamics and its impact on the lower atmosphere and space weather.
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This content will become publicly available on August 22, 2025
The principal role of chorus ducting for night-side relativistic electron precipitation
Night-side chorus waves are often observed during plasma sheet injections, typically confined around the equator and thus potentially responsible for precipitation of Ⲡ100đđđ electrons. However, recent low-altitude observations have revealed the critical role of chorus waves in scattering relativistic electrons on the night-side. This study presents a night-side relativistic electron precipitation event induced by chorus waves at the strong diffusion regime, as observed by the ELFIN CubeSats. Through event-based modeling of wave propagation under ducted or unducted regimes, we show that a density duct is essential for guiding chorus waves to high latitudes with minimal damping, thus enabling the strong night-side relativistic electron precipitation. These findings underline both the existence and the important role of density ducts in facilitating night-side relativistic electron precipitation.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2025706
- PAR ID:
- 10539394
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical research letters
- ISSN:
- 1944-8007
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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