PAMELA observational capabilities of Jovian electrons

PAMELA is a satellite-borne experiment that has been launched on June 15th, 2006. It is designed to make long duration measurements of cosmic radiation over an extended energy range. Specifically, PAMELA is able to measure the cosmic ray antiproton and positron spectra over the largest energy range ever achieved and will search for antinuclei with unprecedented sensitivity. Furthermore, it will measure the light nuclear component of cosmic rays and investigate phenomena connected with solar and earth physics. The apparatus consists of: a time of flight system, a magnetic spectrometer, an electromagnetic imaging calorimeter, a shower tail catcher scintillator, a neutron detector and an anticoincidence system. In this work a study of the PAMELA capabilities to detect electrons is presented. The Jovian magnetosphere is a powerful accelerator of electrons up to several tens of MeV as observed at first by Pioneer 10 spacecraft (1973). The propagation of Jovian electrons to Earth is affected by modulation due to Corotating Interaction Regions (CIR). Their flux at Earth is, moreover, modulated because every 13 months Earth and Jupiter are aligned along the average direction of the Parker spiral of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field.PAMELA will be able to measure the high energy tail of the Jovian electrons in the energy range from 50 up to 130 MeV. Moreover, it will be possible to extract the Jovian component reaccelerated at the solar wind termination shock (above 130 MeV up to 2 GeV) from the galactic flux.     

木星电子在行星际空间的传播

本文考虑了行星际平均螺旋场的影响,推导了木星电子在行星际空间传播的对流-扩散方程;讨论了木星电子的传播。其结果和观测资料符合得较好。      

Detection of the high energy component of Jovian electrons in Low Earth Orbit with the PAMELA experiment

The PAMELA experiment is devoted to the study of cosmic rays in Low Earth Orbit with an apparatus optimized to perform a precise determination of the galactic antimatter component of c.r. It is constituted by a number of detectors built around a permanent magnet spectrometer. PAMELA was launched in space on June 15th 2006 on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite for a mission duration of 3 years. The characteristics of the detectors, the long lifetime and the orbit of the satellite, will allow to address several aspects of cosmic-ray physics. In this work we discuss the observational capabilities of PAMELA to detect the electron component above 50 MeV. The magnetic spectrometer allows a detailed measurement of the energy spectrum of electrons of galactic and Jovian origin. Long term measurements and correlations with Earth–Jupiter 13 months synodic period will allow to separate these two contributions and to measure the primary electron Jovian component, dominant in the 50–70 MeV energy range. With this technique it will also be possible to study the contribution to the electron spectrum of Jovian e⁻ reaccelerated up to 2 GeV at the Solar Wind Termination Shock.     

Jovian periodicities (∼10 h, ∼40 min) on Ulysses’ Distant Jupiter Encounter observations around the Halloween CIR events

We analyzed data from four different instruments (HI-SCALE, URAP, SWOOPS, VHM/FGM) onboard Ulysses spacecraft (s/c) and we searched for possible evidence of Jovian emissions when the s/c approached Jupiter during the times of Halloween events (closest time approach/position to Jupiter: February 5, 2004/R = 1683 R_J,θ = ∼49°). In particular, we analyzed extensively the low energy ion measurements obtained by the HI-SCALE experiment in order to examine whether low energy ion/electron emissions show a symmetry, and whether they are observed at north high latitudes upstream from the jovian bow shock, as is known to occur in the region upstream from the south bow shock as well ( Marhavilas et al., 2001). We studied the period from October 2003 to March 2004, as Ulysses moved at distances 0.8–1.2 AU from the planet at north Jovicentric latitudes <75°, and we present here an example of characteristic Jovian periodicities in the measurements around a CIR observed by Ulysses on days ∼348–349/2003 (R = 1894 R_J,θ = 72°). We show that Ulysses observed low energy ion (∼0.055–4.7 MeV) and electron (>∼40 keV) flux and/or spectral modulation with the Jupiter rotation period (∼10 h) as well as variations with the same period in solar wind parameters, radio and magnetic field directional data. In addition, characteristic strong ∼40 min periodic variations were found superimposed on the ∼10 h ion spectral modulation. Both the ∼10 h and ∼40 min ion periodicities in HI-SCALE measurements were present in several cases during the whole period examined (October 2003 to March 2004) and were found to be more evident during some special conditions, for instance during enhanced fluxes around the start (forward shock) and the end (reverse shock) of CIRs. We infer that the Jovian magnetosphere was triggered by the impact of the CIRs, after the Halloween events, and it was (a) a principal source of forward and reverse shock-associated ion flux structures and (b) the cause of generation of ∼10 h quasi-periodic magnetic field and plasma modulation observed by Ulysses at those times.     

On the determination of energy spectra of MeV electrons by the Ulysses COSPIN/KET

The Ulysses mission has provided a wealth of data, particularly regarding the transport of low-energy cosmic ray electrons. These data have been used to derive significant constraints for the anisotropic spatial diffusion of these particles. Detailed model simulations allowed, in addition, to determine the relative contributions of galactic and Jovian electrons to the total flux at a given time and position in the heliosphere. Despite these insights, energy spectra have not been reliably determined as yet. This is a consequence of the uncertainty due to a background connected to proton interactions with the spacecraft. Recently, however, it was demonstrated that this uncertainty can, with some difficulty, be reduced, thus opening the opportunity to understand such spectra in the energy range 3–30 MeV, i.e., the part mostly dominated by Jovian electrons. We present results of a corresponding re-analysis of COSPIN/KET data.     

Qualitative estimation of magnetic storm efficiency in producing relativistic electron flux in the Earth’s outer radiation belt using geomagnetic pulsations data

It is well known that during many but not all of the geomagnetic storms enhanced fluxes of high-energy electrons are observed in the outer radiation belt. Here we examine relativistic (>2 MeV) electron fluxes measured by GOES at the synchronous orbit and on-ground observations of two types of ULF pulsations during 30 magnetic storms occurred during 1996–2000. To characterize the effectiveness of the chosen magnetic storms in producing relativistic electron fluxes, following to (Reeves, G.D., McAdams, K.L., Friedel, R.H.W., O’Brien, T.R. Acceleration and loss of relativistic electrons during geomagnetic storms. Geophys. Res. Lett. 30, doi:10.1029/2002GL016513, 2003), we calculate a ratio of the maximum daily-averaged electron flux measured during the recovery phase, to the mean pre-storm electron flux. A storm is considered an effective one if its ratio exceeds 2. We compare behavior of Pi1 and Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations during effective and non-effective storms and find a tendency for a storm efficiency to be higher when the mid-latitude Pi1 pulsations are observed for a long time during the magnetic storm main phase. We note also that the prolonged powerful Pc5 pulsation activity during the recovery phase of a magnetic storm is the necessary condition for the storm effectiveness. To interpret the found dependences, we suggest that there are two prerequisites for generating relativistic electron populations during a storm: (1) the availability of seed electrons in the magnetosphere, and Pi1 emissions are indicators of the mid-energy electron interaction with the ionosphere and (2) acceleration of the seed electrons to MeV energies, and interaction of electrons with the MHD wave activity in the Pc5 range is one of the most probable mechanisms proposed in the literature for this purpose.     

High-energy cosmic-ray electrons in the Galaxy

The intensity of cosmic-ray electrons is only ∼1% of the protons at 10 GeV, and decreases very rapidly with energy to be ∼0.1% of protons at 1 TeV. Nevertheless, electrons in cosmic-rays have unique features, complementary to all other cosmic-ray nucleonic components, because they enable us to find the origins of cosmic-rays and the properties of their propagation mechanisms in the Galaxy. High-energy electrons lose energy by synchrotron and inverse Compton processes during the propagation in the Galaxy. Since the energy loss rate by these processes is proportional to the square of energy, TeV electrons accelerated in the sources at distances larger than ∼1 kpc, or ages greater than a few 10⁵ yr, cannot reach the solar system. This suggests that some nearby sources leave unique signatures in the form of identifiable structures in the energy spectrum of TeV electrons, and show increases of the flux towards the sources. In this paper, I review the past observations of high-energy cosmic-ray electrons and discuss their astrophysical significance.     

Contributions from nearby pulsars to the local cosmic ray electron spectrum

PSR J0437-4715 is one of the closest millisecond pulsars (MSPs) to Earth, lying at a distance of ∼140 pc. This pulsar has a characteristic age of 4.9 Gyr and a relatively low spindown power of ∼10³⁴ ergs/s. During its rather long lifetime, a large fraction of the energy output has been in the form of multi-TeV electrons. In this paper, we investigate the possible contribution of this nearby MSP to the local interstellar electron spectrum (LIS). The old age of the system justifies a steady-state evaluation of the contribution from this pulsar to the LIS. We calculate the electron spectrum at the light cylinder in the framework of a General Relativistic polar cap (PC) model, and use this as an injection spectrum in a diffusion model. The younger Geminga pulsar is also very close to Earth and warrants investigation. A steady-state approach is however no longer justified, so we use an impulsive injection model. We will present results of a study of the contribution from these pulsars to the cosmic ray (CR) LIS. Our calculations show that pulsars like Geminga can make a non-negligible contribution to the LIS.     

Solar system planets observed with Suzaku

Recent results of solar system planets observed with the Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite Suzaku are reviewed. Thanks to the low instrumental background and good energy resolution, X-ray CCDs onboard Suzaku are one of the best probes to study diffuse X-ray emission. An overview of the Suzaku data of Jupiter and Earth is presented, along with preliminary results of Mars. Firstly, diffuse hard X-ray emission is discovered in 1–5 keV at Jovian radiation belts. Its spectrum is represented by a power-law continuum with a photon index of ∼1.4. This emission could originate from inverse-Compton scattering of solar photons by tens MeV electrons. Secondly, variable diffuse soft X-rays are serendipitously found during observations in the directions of the north ecliptic pole and galactic ridge. Good time correlations with the solar wind and emission lines found in the X-ray spectra are firm evidences of a solar wind charge exchange emission with Earth’s exosphere. Thirdly, diffuse X-ray emission from Martian exosphere via the solar wind charge exchange is investigated for the first time at solar minimum. A stringent upper limit on the density of the Martian exosphere is placed from the Suzaku data.     

Old tail lobes effect on the solar-wind – Magnetosphere energy transport for the 27 August 2001 substorm

The magnetic flux of tail lobes Ψ is divided in two parts of comparable values Ψ₁ and Ψ₀₂, with the first that appears during substorm and the second, observed before substorm start. The first was named “new magnetic flux”, the second – “old magnetic flux”. The first, Ψ₁, is known to play a definitive role in the energy transport from the solar wind into the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system, but the role of Ψ₀₂ in this transport is not well known. From the 27 August 2001 substorm data we study the involvement in the above transport process of the old flux Ψ₀₂. This involvement is observed in the polar cap (PC) area, which existed prior to the substorm and is called respectively “the old PC”. In this study, as distinct from earlier works, we use the balance equation of the energy stored in magnetosphere and energy consumed. Activation of the old PC magnetic flux Ψ₀₂ was found to increase the energy input by ∼85% in the event under consideration.     

Long-term dynamics of the inner Jovian electron radiation belts

Long-term variations of total Jovian synchrotron emission are well known to vary slowly in time. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain these variations, they can be solar wind driven and/or induced by the geometrical effect of the declination of the Earth in the jovicentric coordinates, D_E. However, until now, not any of them have been definitely proved. We propose here to investigate, this long-term dynamics based on appropriate simulation from a 3D model, Salammbô-3D. This model has been developed to study spatial distribution of electrons in the inner Jovian radiation belts. We will carry out two different approaches, the first one being based on synchrotron simulation from the Salammbô code and the second one being based on GALILEO EPD measurements. Two-dimensional images of Jupiter synchrotron emission can be obtained from our model, for any geometrical configuration (λ_III(CML), D_E). Comparisons show a good agreement between modeling results and VLA observations. With Salammbô-3D, we can also study long-term variations of total Jovian synchrotron emission. The role of the two geometrical factors, λ_III(CML) and D_E, will be analyzed. First, we will present beaming curves (evolution of Jovian synchrotron emission in terms of λ_III(CML)), resulting from the simulation to validate the geometry of the system in the code. Then, the evolution of the non-thermal flux density of synchrotron emission, in terms of D_E, joviographic declination of the Earth, will be studied. With the help of simulations resulting from Salammbô-3D, we will try to discriminate between geometrical induced variations and natural dynamics. On the other hand we will investigate on GALILEO EPD measurements from 1995 until now, restricted to 5–10 Rj, to find out any similarity with the long-term variations of non-thermal flux density of synchrotron emission.     

Study of correlations between waves and particle fluxes measured on board the DEMETER satellite

The topic of relativistic electron dynamics in the outer radiation belt has received considerable attention for many years. Nevertheless, the problem of understanding the physical phenomenon involved is far from being resolved. In this paper, we use DEMETER observations to examine the variations of the energetic electron fluxes and ELF/VLF wave intensities in the inner magnetosphere during the intense 8 November 2004 magnetic storm. Electron flux spectra and associated wave intensity spectra are analysed throughout the magnetic storm and common characteristics or differences to other storm events are retained. The overall objective of this study is to identify and derive parameters that are relevant for particle flux modelling; the time constant characterizing the persistent decay after particle enhancement was found to be one of these important model parameters.The analysis of the 8 November 2004 event reveals that for L-shell parameter higher than 4, an electron flux dropout is observed during the storm’s main phase for electrons in the energy range 0.1–1 MeV, as has been reported from other measurements. Characteristic wave spectra accompanying this phase are analysed. They show a typical enhancement in the frequency range 0.3–10 kHz at onset for all L-shell values under consideration (2 < L < 5). During the first stage of the recovery phase, the electron fluxes are increased to a level higher than the pre-storm level, whereas the level of wave intensity in the frequency range observed below 300 Hz is at its highest. In the second stage, the particle flux decrease goes hand in hand with a global wave activity decline, the relaxation time of the latter being smaller than the former’s one. In some other cases, long-lasting electron enhancement associated with constant wave activity has been observed during this latter stage. For the above mentioned storm, while at low L values the decay time constants are higher for low energy electrons than for high energy electrons, this order is reversed at high L values. At about L = 3.6 the time constant is independent of electron energy.     

The heliospheric modulation of 3–10 MeV electrons: Modeling of changes in the solar wind speed in relation to perpendicular polar diffusion

The discrepancy between cosmic ray model predictions representing solar minimum conditions in the heliosphere and the 3–10 MeV post-1998 electrons observations by the Kiel Electron Telescope (KET) onboard Ulysses suggests the need for consistent changes in model parameters with increasing solar activity. In order to reduce this discrepancy, an effort is made to model the KET observations realistically during periods of increased solar activity by applying an advanced three-dimensional, steady-state electron modulation model based on Parker’s transport equation including the Jovian electron source. Some elements of the diffusion tensor which were not previously emphasized are revisited. A new relation is also established between the latitudinal dependence of the solar wind speed and the perpendicular polar diffusion. Based on this relation, a transition of an average solar wind speed from solar minimum to solar maximum conditions, as observed on board the Ulysses spacecraft, is modeled on the concept of the time-evolution of large polar coronal holes. These changes are correlated to different scenarios of the enhancement of perpendicular polar diffusion. Effects of these scenarios are illustrated, as a series of steady-state solutions, on the computed 7 MeV Jovian and galactic electrons in comparison with 3–10 MeV electrons observed from the period 1998 to the end of 2003. It is shown that this approach improves compatibility with the KET observations but it also points to the need for a time-dependent electron modulation model to fully describe modulation during moderate to extreme solar maximum conditions.     

地球同步轨道高能电子增强事件预报方法

分析了地球同步轨道高能电子通量增强事件的发生规律及其与太阳风和行星际磁场参数的关系，并在此基础上建立了基于人工神经网络的高能电子增强事件模式，经实测数据检验，预报模式可以对未来1天的高能电子通量进行预报，误差为8．2％，达到了较高水平．     

Magnetic connectivity and solar energetic proton event intensity profiles at deka-MeV energy

We present an analysis of the time-intensity profiles of 25 solar energetic proton events at 18.2 MeV, modelled by fitting an analytical function form (a modified Weibull function) to the observed intensities. Additionally relying on previous work that characterized the magnetic connectivity between the event-related solar flare and the observer in these events with three angular parameters, we investigate the fit function parameters, the connectivity parameters, and the iron-to-carbon ratio of the events for dependencies and correlations. We find that the fit parameter controlling the basic shape of the profile (parameter a) is not clearly dependent on the connectivity parameters or the Fe/C ratio, suggesting that the profile shapes of neither well and weakly connected nor generally “impulsive” and “gradual” events differ systematically during the early stages of the event at 1 AU. In contrast, the time scaling of the fit function (parameter b) is at least moderately correlated with both the magnetic connectivity parameters and the Fe/C ratio, in that well-connected and iron-rich events are typically shorter in relative duration than weakly connected and nominal-abundance events; intensity rise times display a similar correlation with the connectivity parameters. We interpret the former result as following from the combined effect of various transport processes acting on the particles in interplanetary space, while the latter is essentially consistent with established knowledge regarding the observed dependence of the time-intensity profile shapes of solar energetic particle events on their magnetic connectivity and heavy ion abundances. The desirability of modelling the particle transport effects in detail and extending the analysis to cover higher energies is indicated.     

Intermediate-term periodicities in relativistic solar electron fluences during solar cycles 22 and 23

In this paper, we have investigated the intermediate-term periodicities of the relativistic (E > 10 MeV) solar electron flares measured by IMP-8 satellite of NASA for the time period of 1986–2001. This period of investigation includes the entire solar cycle 22; ascending, maximum and a part of descending phase of the current solar cycle 23. To determine accurately the occurrence rate of electron flux, we have employed three different spectral decomposition techniques, viz. fast Fourier transformation (FFT); maximum entropy method (MEM) and Lomb–Scargle periodogram analysis method. For solar cycle 22, in the low frequency range, power spectrum analysis exhibits statistically significant periodicities at ∼706, ∼504 and ∼392 days. In the intermediate frequency range, we have found a series of significant periodicities ∼294, ∼221, ∼153, ∼86, ∼73 and ∼66 days. For short term, periodicities of ∼21–23, ∼31 and ∼37 days were found in power spectrum. When solar cycle 23 is considered the significant periodicities are ∼20, ∼23, ∼29, ∼39, ∼54, ∼63, ∼118, ∼133 and ∼154 days. These results provide evidence that the best known Rieger period (∼153 days), appeared in the high energetic electron flux data for cycle 22 and also likely during maxima of cycle 23. The existence of these periodicities has been discussed in the light of earlier results.     

Possible consequences of a disk around B0656+14 on e–e and near-1 Hz gravitational wave production

Nearby pulsars B0656+14 and Geminga were proposed in the literature as the main sources of cosmic-ray positrons observed near Earth above 10 GeV. B0656+14 has comparable distance from Earth, similar magnetic field and period of Geminga. However, observations in the R and I bands indicate the presence of a disk of approximately 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ around B0656+14. Radio and pulsed γ-ray flux observations from this pulsar are also consistent with supernova fallback material and disk entering the light cylinder and partially quenching the development of electromagnetic showers in the magnetosphere. If this is the case, B0656+14 has unlikely given any contribution to e⁺ and e⁻ observed near Earth. Absolute flux measurements and the level of anisotropy in the high energy electron and positron arrival directions above 50 GeV will help in revealing if none, one of both nearby pulsars are sources of these particles observed near Earth.     

Statistical study of energetic electrons in Jupiter’s inner magnetosphere by Juno/JEDI

The Juno spacecraft made the first in-situ observations of energetic particles in the polar region of Jupiter’s magnetosphere. After Jupiter Orbit Insertion (JOI) in July 2016, data from ~20 Juno perijoves (PJs) obtained by Juno/JEDI are accumulated, providing an excellent opportunity to study the long term spatio-temporal distribution of energetic particles in Jupiter’s radiation belt. We transform Juno’s position from a Cartesian to a magnetic coordinate system by tracing magnetic field lines based on a fourth order Runge-Kutta method. Then the fluxes of energetic electrons from PJ1 to PJ14 sorted by different locations in magnetic coordinate space and the data are well organized by the L-shell parameter. The variation of electron flux increases with L-shell. The deviation (the ratio of the 75th percentile to the 25th percentile) of 0.51 MeV electron flux varies from a factor of 1.23 near L = 9.5 to 27.57 near L = 15.5. However, the mean flux decreases by about one order of magnitude in the same region. The electron spectra at larger L-shells are softer than that at smaller L-shells. On the other hand, the electron flux decreases more rapidly with increased L-shell when the location is off the equator. Along an L-shell, the electron flux decrease at first and then increase again from equator to mid-latitude region. In addition, we compare the statistical results with the widely used GIRE2 model. JEDI data correspond well with the GIRE2 model when the L-shell is > 14.75. GIRE2 underestimate the electron flux for L-shell smaller than 13.25. These results of this analysis are applicable to estimate the effects of the radiation environment in Jupiter’s magnetosphere.     

2010年4月地球同步轨道相对论电子增强事件分析

为研究2010年4月地球同步轨道相对论电子通量异常增强事件的原因, 选取了2004-2010年之间高速太阳风下7个类似事件进行对比分析. 探讨了多种可能导致此次异常事件的太阳风和地磁条件. 结果表明, 较弱的磁暴使得相对论电子高通量区域更接近同步轨道, 此外, 哨声波加速很可能在2010年4月地球同步轨道相对论电子通量异常增强事件中起到重要作用. 磁暴强度与种子电子的注入深度密切相关, 表现为Dst指数曲线的形态与能量为30～100keV的电子高通量区域的下边缘高度吻合. 能量为30～100keV电子的注入深度影响了能量大于300keV的电子出现的磁层区域. 此事件中, 由于磁暴相对较弱, 种子电子向内磁层注入的深度较浅, 更靠近同步轨道区域, 这使得相对论电子大量出现的区域也靠近同步轨道, 最终导致同步轨道相对论电子通量异常增强. 另外, 2010年4月地球同步轨道相对论电子通量异常增强事件中, 高强度的亚暴提供了充足的种子电子并加强了波粒相互作用, 这也是相对论电子增强的必要条件.      

Cosmic-ray diffusion in the inner heliosphere

For about the last 40 years, we have been trying to understand the propagation of cosmic rays and other energetic charged particles through the interplanetary medium. Identification of the basic processes affecting the propagation, namely diffusion, convection by the solar wind, adiabatic deceleration, and gradient and curvature drifts, was attained early on, but reaching detailed physical understanding, particularly of the roles of diffusion and gradient and curvature drifts, continues as an active topic of research to this day. Particularly unclear is the nature of the cross-field propagation. Many observations seem to require more efficient cross-field propagation than theoretical propagation models can easily produce. At the same time, there are other observations that seem to show strong guidance of the particles by the interplanetary magnetic field. With current measurements from spacecraft near Earth and from the Ulysses spacecraft, which samples nearly the complete range of heliographic latitudes in the inner heliosphere, critical tests of the ways in which cosmic rays and other energetic charged particles propagate through the interplanetary medium are possible. I briefly review the status of observations that are relevant to the characterization of diffusive propagation in the inner heliosphere and will present evidence for a possibly previously overlooked contribution from transport along magnetic flux tubes that deviate dramatically from the average interplanetary spiral configuration.