Electron acceleration in a geomagnetic Field Line Resonance

A hybrid MHD kinetic-electron model in dipolar coordinates is used to simulate the upward current region of a geomagnetic Field Line Resonance (FLR) system for a realistic ambient electron temperature of a keV. It is found that mirror force effects result in potential drops sufficient to accelerate electrons to energies in excess of a keV in support of field aligned currents on the order of 0.5 mu A/m(2). The wave energy dissipated in this acceleration would completely damp an undriven FLR with an equatorial width of 0.5 R-E within two resonance cycles. Citation: Damiano, P. A., and J. R. Johnson (2012), Electron acceleration in a geomagnetic Field Line Resonance, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L02102, doi:10.1029/2011GL050264.