Duration of Individual Relativistic Electron Microbursts: A Probe Into Their Scattering Mechanism
Published in Geophysical Research Letters, 2021
Abstract: We used the Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer to identify and quantify the duration of relativistic, >1 MeV, electron microbursts. A typical relativistic microburst has a ~100 millisecond (ms) duration, and the interquartile range of the duration distribution is 70–140 ms. We investigated trends in the microburst duration as a function of geomagnetic activity, L-shell, and magnetic local time (MLT). The clearest trend is in MLT: the median microburst duration doubles from 75 milliseconds at midnight to 140 milliseconds noon MLT. This trend is similar to the whistler mode chorus rising tone element duration trend, suggesting a possible relationship.
Recommended citation: Shumko, M., Blum, L. W., & Crew, A. B. (2021). Duration of individual relativistic electron microbursts: A probe into their scattering mechanism. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2021GL093879. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093879