The dependence of radial diffusion coefficients on solar/interplanetary drivers

Radial diffusion driven by Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) waves is very important for magnetospheric dynamics, as it contributes to both acceleration and loss of relativistic electrons in the outer Van Allen radiation belt, as well as to other planetary magnetospheres. The dependence of ULF wave power spectral density and radial diffusion coefficients (DLL) on solar wind parameters has already been investigated but their dependence on the various solar and interplanetary drivers is poorly studied. In this study, we conduct a statistical analysis of radial diffusion coefficients DLL to look into their dependence on different interplanetary drivers, i.e. Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs) and Stream Interaction Regions (SIRs), which originate from different solar drivers: CMEs and coronal holes. We use the ”SafeSpace” database (https://synergasia.uoa.gr/modules/document/?course=PHYS120), which includes radial diffusion coefficients DLL and ULF wave power spectral density, created using magnetic and electric field measurements by the THEMIS satellites in the 2011–2019 time period. We study how the properties of these solar wind drivers influence the behavior of radial diffusion coefficients. The results indicate significant differences between drivers of different solar origin at the ratio of the electric over the magnetic DLL component (DLLE over DLLB), especially when the solar wind dynamic pressure is maximized due to shock existence. Furthermore, differences are observed between SIRs with shock and SIRs without shock. This feature introduces a significant energy dependence to the radial diffusion coefficients, which is further depending on the radial distance and the different first adiabatic invariant (μ) values. These results emphasize the importance of the energy dependence of the magnetic component of the DLL, especially during the occurrence of interplanetary shocks, which is neglected by most semi-empirical models used in radiation belt simulations.