Fig. 5: Radial profiles of phase space density during the first and second storm.
From: Local heating of radiation belt electrons to ultra-relativistic energies
Phase space density—L* profiles measured by Van Allen Probe A (solid lines) and B (dotted lines) are shown. a, b Show the phase space density during the first enhancement period for μ = 8000 MeV and μ = 10,000 MeV, respectively. c, d Again show the phase space density for μ = 8000 MeV and μ = 10,000 MeV, respectively, but for the second enhancement period. Growing peaks are observed, indicative of local acceleration. All phase space density values correspond to K = 0.11 REG1/2. Arrows mark the direction of spacecraft travel and we have used the maximum radius of the orbit (from the x, y, z coordinates) to distinguish between the inbound and outbound sectors of the pass. For each pass, the time of the first and last measurement shown is used to label the phase space density—L* profile. Not all passes are shown here and for additional passes see Supplementary Figs. 5 and 6.
