OUTER VAN ALLEN BELTS AND NEUTRAL POINTS ON INTERFACE BETWEEN SOLAR WIND AND GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
Abstract
The two N-1 (neutral) points are believed to be the key mechanisms of trapping high-energy particles in the outer Van Allen belts. Their neighborhoods allow the solar wind plasma to seep into the geomagnetic field without reflection. Their instability causes the connected interface to oscillate locally, inducing magnetohydrodynamic waves which increase the energy of the trapped particles to much higher levels in succeeding steps. Even when the solar wind is not steady, the above conclusions are expected to be valid, except that the interface may change its position. Furthermore, those mechanisms of trapped particles and boosting energy become more effective. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0274698
Entities
People
- C.c. Chang