Testing electric and magnetic field models of the storm-time inner magnetosphere

Citation
Lm. Kistler et Dj. Larson, Testing electric and magnetic field models of the storm-time inner magnetosphere, J GEO R-S P, 105(A11), 2000, pp. 25221-25231
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Space Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS
ISSN journal
21699380 → ACNP
Volume
105
Issue
A11
Year of publication
2000
Pages
25221 - 25231
Database
ISI
SICI code
0148-0227(20001101)105:A11<25221:TEAMFM>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
We calculate the equipotential contours, drift trajectories, and predicted proton energy spectra in the inner magnetosphere using combinations of dipo le or Tsyganenko magnetic field models and Volland-Stern or Weimer electric fields models. We compare the results with observations of proton energy s pectra at L = 4-5 over a range of local times from the Active Magnetospheri c Particle Tracer Explorers/charge-energy-mass instrument. We find that the trajectories, and in particular the source location in the tail and the ex it location on the dayside, depend significantly on both the electric and m agnetic field models. However, the predicted energy spectra in the inner ma gnetosphere depended almost entirely on the choice of electric field. Using the Weimer electric field gives less loss along the trajectories, which is usually in better agreement with the observed energy spectra.