Pitch angle distributions of energetic electrons at Saturn

Solar wind periodicity in energetic electrons at Saturn

[1] Fluxes of energetic electrons (110–365 keV) have been subjected to a long-term Lomb periodogram analysis from the middle of 2004 to the middle of 2009. Fluxes within 20 RS and outside the magnetopause were excluded, so only fluxes within the magnetosphere were included in the analysis. The periodicity ‘‘box’’ was expanded from 5 hours to 50 days. In addition to the familiar rotational perio...

Statistically measuring the amount of pitch angle scattering that energetic electrons undergo as they drift across the plasmaspheric drainage plume at geosynchronous orbit

Using five spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, plasmaspheric drainage plumes are located in the dayside magnetosphere and the measured pitch angle anisotropies of radiation belt electrons are compared duskward and dawnward of the plumes. Two hundred twenty-six plume crossings are analyzed. It is found that the radiation belt anisotropy is systematically greater dawnward of plumes (before the el...

Large-angle scattering of energetic electrons from Xe: A combined theoretical and experimental approach

We study the inelastic excitations of Xe for electrons with relatively high energies (500 or 750 eV) scattered over large angles, both experimentally and theoretically. In particular, we focus on the shape and intensity of the spectra of inelastically scattered electrons at the sharp dip in the elastic cross section near 135◦ at 750 eV. Under these conditions, the first Born approximation predi...

Pitch angle scattering of an energetic magnetized particle by a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave

Production of energetic electrons during magnetic reconnection.

The production of energetic electrons during magnetic reconnection is explored with full particle simulations and analytic analysis. Density cavities generated along separatrices bounding growing magnetic islands support parallel electric fields that act as plasma accelerators. Electrons because of their low mass are fast enough to make multiple passes through these acceleration cavities and ar...