Secular Magnetic Variation and the Inner Zone.
Abstract
The secular variation of the earth's magnetic field has important consequences concerning the steady-state inner zone of energetic protons. One consequence is the decrease in minimum altitude for particles having a constant flux invariant Phi and a constant invariant parameter Kappa. This affects the rate at which particles lose energy to free and bound atmospheric electrons. Another consequence is the increase in the magnitude of the mirror-point field, resulting in a slow increase in a particle's energy. It is found that for equatorially mirroring particles at a nominal L = 1.10, conservation of Kappa and Phi causes the minimum mirror altitude to decrease at a rate of 6 km/year using the IGRF (1965.0) model for the earth's magnetic field, and at a rate of 11 km/year using the POGO (8/69) model. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 12, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0751284
Entities
People
- Henry H. Hilton
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation