Magnetospheric relativistic electron response to magnetic cloud events of 1997 Original Research Article

Relativistic electron flux enhancements in the outer zone, resulting from the interaction of the magnetosphere with magnetic cloud(Coronal Mass Ejection) events during 1997 have been studied using sensors aboard multiple spacecraft. It is found that the relativistic flux enhancements in the outer zone show a great degree of coherence that is very nearly independent of pitch angle, L-shell and energy. Enhancements occur over a broad range of L suggesting the global nature of the underlying acceleration mechanisms. In addition, the rapid rise times of the electron fluxes, being about less than a day or so, imply that these processes are of a non-adiabatic nature.