Improved Models of the Inner and Outer Radiation Belts
Abstract
In March 1991, after a very sudden commencement, the CRRES satellite observed the creation of a large flux of high energy protons and electrons in the inner magnetosphere. A vector potential model of the time dependent Chapman- Ferraro currents is developed for this sudden commencement. This time dependent vector potential is then used to determine the magnetic field and the induction electric field during the sudden commencement. The model magnetic signature agrees well with the CRRES observations. The induction electric field calculated by the model ranges from 10s of milliVolts per meter at 3 Re on midnight side of the earth to as large as 400 milliVolts per meter on the noon meridian. The electric field is non-conservative and is capable of accelerating protons and electrons to many 10s of MeV. Sample proton trajectories are used to determine the acceleration of particles in the storm-time magnetic and electric fields. The appendix lists the complete FORTRAN code of the time dependent magnetic and electric field models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA258708
Entities
People
- K. A. Pfitzer