About this Research Topic
The Earth's outer radiation belt is occupied by different energy electrons (10s keV – 10s MeV). The outer radiation belt during geomagnetic storms is extremely variable due to different loss and acceleration mechanisms. Losses mechanisms of electrons mainly include magnetopause shadowing with subsequent enhanced outward radial transport and scattering into the atmospheric loss cones (drift or bounce) via wave-particle interactions with electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves, chorus waves, plasmaspheric hiss, and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves, etc. Acceleration mechanisms of electrons mainly include local acceleration via gyroresonant interactions with whistler mode chorus waves and inward radial diffusion by ultralow-frequency (ULF) waves. The solar wind and magnetospheric processes have important effects on the evolution of electrons in the outer radiation belt. Other magnetized planets with radiation belts also experience above physical mechanisms.
The goal of this research topic is to advance the understanding of the loss and acceleration mechanisms of radiation belt electrons and improve the capability to model and forecast the evolution of electrons in the outer radiation belt. To achieve this goal, we will address the following problems:
1. What are the distribution characteristics of different plasma waves in the outer radiation belt during different magnetic storms?
2. What are the distribution and evolution of different energy electrons in the outer radiation belt during magnetic storms of different intensities?
3. How do the electrons evolve in the outer radiation belt due to various loss and acceleration processes?
4. How do nonlinear wave-particle interactions affect the evolution of electrons in the outer radiation belt?
The above questions will be addressed by soliciting a series of research articles on the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the outer radiation belt. The research areas that we are interested in are listed in the section below. Although there have been many studies on the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the outer radiation belt in the past, there are unclear understanding of the electron dynamics in the outer radiation belt, such as wave nonlinear effect and bifurcation drift effect.
We would like to solicit articles on original research. The scope of this research topic is understanding the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the Earth’s outer radiation belt and other magnetized planets. The specific themes include:
1. New features of plasma waves revealed by the past and currently operating satellite missions in the outer radiation belt (e.g., Cluster, Van Allen Probes, Arase, THEMIS, and MMS).
2. The evolution characteristics of the electrons in the outer radiation belt during the magnetic storms based on the satellite observations (e.g., Van Allen Probes, Arase, THEMIS, and MMS), and the relation with solar wind conditions.
3. Theoretical analysis and observational evidence of nonlinear wave-particle interactions in the outer radiation belt.
4. Simulation and observation evidence of the bifurcation drift effect on electron dynamics in the outer radiation belt.
5. Simulations and observations of the electrons in the outer radiation belt to quantify the transport, loss, and acceleration of electrons.
6. Studies on drivers, spatiotemporal dynamics, pathways, and impacts of the electron precipitation using theory, modeling, and observations.
7. Comparative studies about the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the radiation belts of the Earth and other planets, such as Saturn, and Jupiter.
The goal of this research topic is to advance the understanding of the loss and acceleration mechanisms of radiation belt electrons and improve the capability to model and forecast the evolution of electrons in the outer radiation belt. To achieve this goal, we will address the following problems:
1. What are the distribution characteristics of different plasma waves in the outer radiation belt during different magnetic storms?
2. What are the distribution and evolution of different energy electrons in the outer radiation belt during magnetic storms of different intensities?
3. How do the electrons evolve in the outer radiation belt due to various loss and acceleration processes?
4. How do nonlinear wave-particle interactions affect the evolution of electrons in the outer radiation belt?
The above questions will be addressed by soliciting a series of research articles on the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the outer radiation belt. The research areas that we are interested in are listed in the section below. Although there have been many studies on the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the outer radiation belt in the past, there are unclear understanding of the electron dynamics in the outer radiation belt, such as wave nonlinear effect and bifurcation drift effect.
We would like to solicit articles on original research. The scope of this research topic is understanding the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the Earth’s outer radiation belt and other magnetized planets. The specific themes include:
1. New features of plasma waves revealed by the past and currently operating satellite missions in the outer radiation belt (e.g., Cluster, Van Allen Probes, Arase, THEMIS, and MMS).
2. The evolution characteristics of the electrons in the outer radiation belt during the magnetic storms based on the satellite observations (e.g., Van Allen Probes, Arase, THEMIS, and MMS), and the relation with solar wind conditions.
3. Theoretical analysis and observational evidence of nonlinear wave-particle interactions in the outer radiation belt.
4. Simulation and observation evidence of the bifurcation drift effect on electron dynamics in the outer radiation belt.
5. Simulations and observations of the electrons in the outer radiation belt to quantify the transport, loss, and acceleration of electrons.
6. Studies on drivers, spatiotemporal dynamics, pathways, and impacts of the electron precipitation using theory, modeling, and observations.
7. Comparative studies about the loss and acceleration mechanisms of the electrons in the radiation belts of the Earth and other planets, such as Saturn, and Jupiter.
Keywords: the Earth’s outer radiation belt, Losses mechanisms, Acceleration mechanism, Energetic electrons, Magnetized planets, Electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves, Chorus waves, Plasmaspheric hiss, Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
