Spectral characteristics of electron fluxes at L < 2 under the Radiation Belts

The paper presents the analysis of experimental data on electron fluxes with energies 10 keV–10 MeV. Data were obtained during 1978–2005 years in different space experiments (COSMOS-900, MIR Space Station, ACTIVE, SAMPEX, CORONAS-I, CORONAS-F, NOAA POES-17, TATYANA and others). Two areas of electron flux enhancements are studied in the paper: the near-equatorial (L < 1.2) zone and the middle-latitude (1.2 < L < 1.9) zone. It is shown that electron flux enhancements are regularly registered at L < 2 and the observed formations have some typical features. Electron peaks at L < 1.2 appear sporadically while peaks at 1.2 < L < 1.9 are observed regularly. The approximations of spectra by several functions including kappa-function are presented.     

The electron formations under the radiation belts at L-shells 1.2–1.9

We continue to analyze the distribution of electron fluxes with energy 30–500 keV under the radiation belts at low and middle latitudes (L = 1.2–1.9) using experimental data obtained onboard ACTIVE satellite. Special attention is given to altitudinal distribution of electron fluxes and detailed analysis of these electron formations. We observe three main regions of electron flux registration that seem to exist constantly under the radiation belts. These regions are: magneto-conjugated to SAA region (in the north hemisphere), local zone of low intense electron flux accumulation to the west of SAA, and extensive region in the north hemisphere to the east. The analysis of experimental data obtained from ACTIVE satellite (orbit height 500–2500 km) shows that electron fluxes are registered in the wide altitude range up to 1100 km. It is shown that these formations have complicated initial structure with two regions of flux maximums: at L = 1.3 and L = 1.6–1.8. We compare particle data with low frequency (LF) data (ARIEL-4 satellite) and high frequency (HF) data (CORONAS-I satellite). Also we discuss the possible mechanisms of the appearance of these formations under the radiation belts.