Time dependent convection electric fields and plasma injection

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Abstract
Large‐scale electric fields associated with storms or substorms are responsible for inward convection and energization of plasma sheet plasma. Calculations based on steady state convection theory show that the response to such electric fields qualitatively accounts for many features of the injected particle distribution, but quantitative agreement with the theory has not yet been obtained. It is known that the predictions can be improved by introducing the concept of convection in response to a time dependent electric field. On the other hand, time dependent calculations are sensitive to the choice of initial conditions, and most models have failed to incorporate these conditions in a realistic and self‐consistent manner. In this paper we present a more complete model consisting of realistic initial conditions and time dependent convection to explain a typical substorm‐associated electron injection event. We find very good agreement between the observed electron flux changes and those predicted by our model.

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