Extremely Collimated Electron Beams in the High Latitude Magnetosphere Observed by Arase

This report describes electron beams observed at high latitudes in the magnetosphere by the Arase satellite. According to fine angular channel measurements, beam electrons are mainly flowing away from the Earth, and are well collimated to within a few degrees. A statistical study indicates that the beams are seen when Arase is located at L_m > ∼5, and more frequently as the magnetosphere becomes active. The field lines of the beam events are traced back to the typical auroral ovals. The statistical properties of the beams are consistent with the interpretation that ionospheric electrons are accelerated by a parallel electric field of an auroral potential structure and are streaming upward to the high latitude magnetosphere.