This is a typical output from the ring current - neutral atom simulation. The left and middle panels show the equatorial ion distribution generated from the Fok's ring current model. The left panel plots the differential flux averaged over pitch angles. The white circle depicts the 6.6 RE radial distance. The middle panel shows the pitch angle anisotropy, with zero value representing isotropic distribution, greater than zero perpendicular and less than zero field aligned. The right panel is the corresponding neutral atom image from the perspective of the IMAGE satellite. Dipole field lines of L = 3 and 6.6 at 4 MLTs are overlaid as a spatial reference.

The IDL code used to plot the ion flux - ena image: plot_ion_ena.pro.

Comments to Mei-Ching Fok at mei-ching.fok@gsfc.nasa.gov, 301-286-1083