Comparison of differential number fluxes obtained with three loss-cone angle values. (a) Differential number flux of precipitating protons at 2.8 keV obtained with the data reduction operator (DRO) at t = 1100 s in the Y = 0 plane of the simulation. The red (near X = −10 R_E) and magenta (near X = −5 R_E) dots indicate the locations at which velocity distribution functions (VDFs) were saved in the output file and will be analysed in the next panels. (b) Slice in the (v_x, v_z) plane of the VDF at the location corresponding to the red dot. The boundaries of a loss cone of 10° (dark green), 5° (light green) and 2° (brown) are indicated. (c) Same for the location corresponding to the magenta dot. (d) Precipitating proton spectra at the red location obtained with the three loss cone values, with the same colour code as in the above panels. The “+” signs indicate the spectrum given by the DRO. (e) Same for the magenta location.