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  1. Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves can scatter radiation belt electrons with energies of a few hundred keV and higher. To accurately predict this scattering and the resulting precipitation of these relativistic electrons on short time scales, we need detailed knowledge of the wave field’s spatio-temporal evolution, which cannot be obtained from single spacecraft measurements. Our study presents EMIC wave models obtained from two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations in the Earth’s dipole magnetic field. We study cases of hydrogen band and helium band wave propagation, rising-tone emissions, packets with amplitude modulations, and ducted waves. We analyze the wave propagation properties in the time domain, enabling comparison within situobservations. We show that cold plasma density gradients can keep the wave vector quasiparallel, guide the wave energy efficiently, and have a profound effect on mode conversion and reflections. The wave normal angle of unducted waves increases rapidly with latitude, resulting in reflection on the ion hybrid frequency, which prohibits propagation to low altitudes. The modeled wave fields can serve as an input for test-particle analysis of scattering and precipitation of relativistic electrons and energetic ions.

     
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available October 10, 2024
  2. Abstract

    Whistler‐mode chorus waves play an essential role in the acceleration and loss of energetic electrons in the Earth’s inner magnetosphere, with the more intense waves producing the most dramatic effects. However, it is challenging to predict the amplitude of strong chorus waves due to the imbalanced nature of the data set, that is, there are many more non‐chorus data points than strong chorus waves. Thus, traditional models usually underestimate chorus wave amplitudes significantly during active times. Using an imbalanced regressive (IR) method, we develop a neural network model of lower‐band (LB) chorus waves using 7‐year observations from the EMFISIS instrument onboard Van Allen Probes. The feature selection process suggests that the auroral electrojet index alone captures most of the variations of chorus waves. The large amplitude of strong chorus waves can be predicted for the first time. Furthermore, our model shows that the equatorial LB chorus’s spatiotemporal evolution is similar to the drift path of substorm‐injected electrons. We also show that the chorus waves have a peak amplitude at the equator in the source MLT near midnight, but toward noon, there is a local minimum in amplitude at the equator with two off‐equator amplitude peaks in both hemispheres, likely caused by the bifurcated drift paths of substorm injections on the dayside. The IR‐based chorus model will improve radiation belt prediction by providing chorus wave distributions, especially storm‐time strong chorus. Since data imbalance is ubiquitous and inherent in space physics and other physical systems, imbalanced regressive methods deserve more attention in space physics.

     
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  3. Abstract

    Jupiter is known to have a complex magnetosphere containing energetic (above 10s of keV) electrons, protons, and heavy ions. However, a global distribution of these energetic particles is not fully understood before the era of the polar‐orbiting Juno mission. In this study, we focus on the energetic proton distribution atM < 50 by taking advantage of Juno's measurement covering various magnetic latitudes andM‐shells, and find that energetic proton fluxes are higher off‐equator than that near the equator atM > ∼20, and become comparable or lower at high latitudes than those near the equator at lowM‐shells. Pitch angle distributions of energetic protons are field‐aligned, isotropic, and weak pancake‐like from high to lowM‐shells. Proton phase space density shows a weakM‐shell dependence atM > 30 and a large positive slope atM < 30, suggesting their potential source and loss processes.

     
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  4. Abstract

    Electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves are known to precipitate plasma sheet electrons into the upper atmosphere and generate diffuse aurorae. In this study, we report quasiperiodic rising (3 events) and falling tone (22 events) ECH waves observed by Van Allen Probes and evaluate their properties. These rising and falling tone ECH waves prefer to occur during quiet geomagnetic conditions over the dusk to midnight sector in relatively high‐density (10–80 cm−3) regions. Their repetition periods increase with increasingLshell atL < 6, ranging from ∼60 to 110 s. The wave element duration varies from 10 to 130 s peaking at ∼40 s and the chirping rate peaks at ∼50 (∼−50) Hz/s for rising (falling) tones. Our findings reveal intriguing features of the ECH wave properties, which provide new insights into their generation and potential effects on electron precipitation.

     
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