Formation of Low Energy Electron Population in the Inner Earth's Magnetosphere

We focus on the formation of the solar wind driven low energy electron population in the region of the inner Earth's magnetosphere at L=2-10. This seed electron population (E < 100 keV) is a critical determinant of the radiation belts. A critical determinant of the radiation belts is the availability of a seed population. We use the Inner Magnetosphere Particle Transport and Acceleration Model (IMPTAM), which follows electrons with arbitrary pitch angles from the plasma sheet to the inner L-shell regions with energies reaching up to several MeVs in time-dependent magnetic and electric fields. By modeling of several storm events we investigate main factors influencing the formation of seed electron population, such as: (1) How does the plasma sheet act as a source for low energy electrons?, (2) What is the role of convection and inductive electric fields in transport and acceleration of the plasma sheet electrons?, and (3) How does the access of the plasma sheet electrons depend on nondipolar magnetic field? The relative contributions of these features and their influence on the intensity and location of electron fluxes in the radiation belts represents an important part of the assessment of the drivers of radiation belt physics.