Numerical simulation of ionization enhancement in the topside ionosphere of cusp foot-point region caused by low energy particle precipitation

The Graz Ionospheric Flux Tube Simulations (GIFTS) has been improved. The improved GIFTS model was used to numerically investigate the energy particle precipitation on the distribution of electron density in the ionospheric cusp foot-point region under conditions of large plasma convection during magnetic storm. After including the effects of low energy incident particles, the ionospheric electron densities increase remarkably above altitude of ∼250 km, showing a peak at about 350 km. The percent enhancements of electron densities increase gradually with altitude, exceeding 60% near the upper boundary of the calculation. The calculated ionospheric F 2-peak was remarkably enhanced and lifted up by the incident low energy electrons.