Source of Radiation Belt Electrons

University Of Colorado At Boulder, Boulder CO

Investigators

Abstract

The source of the highly energetic electrons in the out radiation belt has remained a mystery. A model explaining the origin of the electrons through inward radial diffusion has been utilized to successfully explain many features of the radiation belt but the model requires a source of electrons with a high phase space density which must lie outside the radiation belt region. The radial transport model assumes that the first and (usually) the second adiabatic invariants are conserved, but the third is not. This implies that electrons must be transported inward from a region of higher phase space density. This project will utilize data from the Polar, Wind, SAMPEX and Los Alamos satellites to determine where that source region is and how it varies with solar wind conditions. The radial transport model will then be utilized to quantify the electron energization and compare the process with other competing processes such as localized heating by waves and recirculation.