MHD Simulation of the Excitation of Compressional Mode ULF Waves and the Implied Magnetospheric Relativistic Electron Acceleration

Recent work of Tan et al. [2011] found evidence of relativistic electron acceleration by the compressional-mode ULF waves during a storm sudden commencement event on September 25, 2001 from the observations by four Cluster spacecraft measuring ULF waves and low-energy electron flux, and five LANL spacecraft measuring energetic electron fluxes over a wide energy range. We perform global MHD simulation through NASA/CCMC to investigate the excitation and distribution of compressional ULF waves during the event. Comparison with satellite and ground observations are given. In this event, the energetic electron flux measured by LANL shows modulation of low-energy electrons and acceleration of high-energy electrons by the compressional poloidal-mode electric field oscillations within 2-3 hours. Implication of simulated ULF wave distribution for relativistic electron acceleration will be discussed. Tan, L. C., X. Shao, A. S. Sharma, and S. F. Fung (2011), Relativistic electron acceleration by compressional-mode ULF waves: Evidence from correlated Cluster, Los Alamos National Laboratory spacecraft, and ground-based magnetometer measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A07226, doi:10.1029/2010JA016226.