Simulations of electron zebra stripes in the inner radiation belt using a composite empirical electric field model  

作　　者：Ziyang WANG Ying LIU Qiugang ZONG Hong ZOU Yuguang YE Xuzhi ZHOU Chao YUE Shan WANG 

机构地区：[1]Institute of Space Physics and Applied Technology,Peking University,Beijing,100871,China [2]State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Science,Macao University of Science and Technology,Macao,999078,China

出　　处：《Science China Earth Sciences》2025年第1期27-38,共12页中国科学(地球科学英文版)

基　　金：supported by the Major Project of Chinese National Programs for Fundamental Research and Development(Grant No.2021YFA0718600);the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42230202);the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao SAR(Grant No.0176/2023/RIA3)。

摘　　要：The phenomenon termed“zebra stripes”manifests as regular patterns in the energy-space(L shell)spectrum of energetic electrons(ranging from tens to hundreds ke V)within the inner radiation belt.These structures exhibit drift-periodic behavior and commonly arise from large-scale electric field perturbations near the substorm onsets.In this study,we introduce a composite electric field model and replicate the formation,structure,and evolution of zebra stripes using a bounce-averaged test particle code under this electric field model.High-resolution measurements of energetic electrons obtained from the Van Allen Probes and the recently launched Macao Science Satellites-1 are used as initial conditions and served to validate our test particle simulations.Comparative analyses between observed data and simulations demonstrate our test particle method's efficacy in capturing zebra stripes'general behavior.Moreover,the composite model proves capable of reproducing realistic variations in the electric field within the inner radiation belt to a certain extent.Nevertheless,subtle differences emerge in the flux strength and the positions of stripes.These disparities primarily stem from limitations inherent in the electric field model and the initial conditions of the simulation.Acknowledging that the model represents an average case,it is conceivable that real-world scenarios may deviate from the average,thereby introducing variations in the observed phenomena.

关 键 词：Zebra stripes Inner radiation belt Large-scale electric fields Van Allen Probes Macao Science Satellite 

分 类 号：TB3[一般工业技术—材料科学与工程]