Low Hanging Fruit Large-Scale Dynamics & Structure
Global Models We plan to try to run DREAM-RB continuously with both SWx data and science data. This will be a limited model (1D, T89...) For events we will also have the ability to run 3D diffusion with assumed parameters that can be varied Outputs are PSD in 324 µ-k planes that can be usersampled at e.g. CCMC Develop data-assimilative ring current models. We will need context of global B field, global E field, and plasma distributions for e.g. where whistlers should be present. Any advances here will be LHF
PSD in µ, K
RAM-SCB Wave Growth
Spatial/Temporal Correlation When whistlers are present what is the range of MLT and L over which they are present? Are the unstable plasma distributions present over the same spatial domain? How long do they last? Essentially, we have to investigate spatial and temporal correlations for everything we want to measure
Whistler Chorus
Correlations of Chorus & Hiss Bortnik et al., 2009
How can they be so coherent over such a large span of MLT?
Radiation Belt PSD PSD as a function of mu, K, L* - many science studies from ECT team PSD as a function of E and pitch angle (PA). This is routine analysis for plasma missions like Geotail and solar wind. Not common for inner magnetosphere. What can be learned there about distributions, multicomponent, anisotropies, ring distributions etc. What additional can we learn from spatial and temporal dependence? Chen et al., 2007
Drift Trajectories Model drift orbits using mu, K, L*. this will be done by the ECT SOC routinely for the RBSP ephemeris but the global drift paths are also interesting. What is the science though? Compare to Lyons 1972, Reeves 1991, etc Drift shell splitting? Can we extend to lower energy with UBK? Can we observe alfven layers - especially for the complex ion drift paths?
Magnetopause Magnetopause studies - drift paths, radial diffusion rates, Plasmasheet source vs magnetopause loss (e.g. sub-drift physics) Reeves et al., 1998
Composition What are the compositional changes related to various inner magnetospheric processes? Plasma sheet. Ion isotropic boundaries. Injections. Convection. Ring current dynamics. How do we use ion species as tracers or tests of various theories? E.g. are substorm injections spatially structured by species? What does that tell us about the spatial distribution in the plasma sheet vs mass-dependent dynamics of the injection process? Polar and CRRES observed banded ion structures related to fossil injections?
Storm, Substorm, Seed Population Dynamics of the inner edge of the plasma sheet - injections, convection, unstable distributions. Storm- Substorm relationship. How steady or dynamic is convection in the inner magnetosphere? Can we see transition from cross-tail to co-rotational ExB? RB seed populations. What controls the intensity? spatial distribution? energy spectrum? direct injections of MeV electrons?
Plasmasphere Plasmasphere & plasmapause. How structured is it? How does it evolve with geomagnetic activity? What is the relationship to the radiation belts? Do injected populations ever overlap? What is the transition in boundary dynamics from cold to warm?
ULF Waves Can we prove a causal relationship between ULF wave power (and mode) and the rates of radial diffusion? Can we use the L-dependence of power and mode? How to they compare to MHD simulations? Can we measure radial diffusion rates the way Brautigam & Albert did? Are there radially isolated structures (electron injection echoes?) that we can use to observe diffusion
Conjunctions Conjunctions with other satellites or ground stations. Cluster found that almost any conjunction produced publishable results. Can we get predicted conjunctions based on predicted rbsp orbit out into the community right away? Can we do something like the cluster-ground working group? RBSP-great observatory working group. Let virbo lead? How do various waves propagate through the ionosphere to the ground? What can the dispersion tell us? What is the source of the 20 db problem?