The Creation of New Ion Radiation Belts Associated with Solar Energetic Particle Events and Interplanetary Shocks

We surveyed measurements of the inner magnetosphere during solar cycle 23 for the signature of a particular form of the Sun-Earth connection: the creation of new ion radiation belts in the inner magnetosphere that form during intense solar particle events and associated interplanetary shocks. We extended the database of such events that were previously reported and found that new ion belts appeared after geomagnetic storms in approximately one-quarter of the cases where solar energetic particles were present below an L shell of 4. Suppression of the nominal particle cutoffs was only one requirement for the creation of new belts. The presence of ions up to and including iron clearly indicated their source was solar energetic particles. Ions with larger mass (and therefore rigidity) appeared on lower L shells. Lifetimes varied from event to event, and in the 11/23/2001 event were consistent with a loss due to ionization energy loss in the residual atmosphere.