MLT distributions of Bounce Loss and Drift Loss cone electrons

Electron precipitation remains a dominant topic of study with confusion persisting as to whether instruments are measuring stable trapped electrons in low earth orbit, locally precipitating electrons, or electrons that will be lost over the course of a drift orbit. In this study, we present a preliminary study focusing on categorizing electrons by their precipitation mechanism (bounce loss or drift loss) or as trapped populations. Using the Electron Losses and Fields Investigation (ELFIN) Spatio-Temporal Ambiguity Resolution (STAR) CubeSat measurements developed at UCLA, we determine which keV – MeV electrons are lost and trapped within each MLT sector. The ELFIN-STAR measurements are used to determine the magnetic footprint required for particles to be lost via bounce loss and/or drift loss.