Empirical radiation belt models: Comparison with in situ data and implications for environment definition

The term "killer electron" was first used in an article by Graham (1994) to describe highly energetic (relativistic) radiation belt electrons that can seriously damage orbiting satellites. Since the 1990s, spacecraft safety has been a pressing concern of space weather science, and a major challenge is forecasting radiation belt conditions (Baker, 2002;Horne et al., 2013;Webb & Allen, 2004). There have been many studies related to the generation and dynamics of relativistic (>1 MeV) radiation belt electrons (e.g.,

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“…We have reproduced the AE9 profiles in Figure 5 from Figure 5b in the paper by de Soria‐Santacruz Pich et al. (2017).…”

Section: Comparison Of Solutions With Experimental Data Profilesmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…AE9 is an empirical model based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and designed for use in space system design and mission planning. We have reproduced the AE9 profiles in Figure 5 from Figure 5b in the paper by de Soria-Santacruz Pich et al (2017).…”

Section: Comparison Of Solutions With Experimental Data Profilesmentioning

confidence: 89%

Analysis of Radiation Belt “Killer” Electron Energy Spectra

Summers

Stone

2022

JGR Space Physics

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“…As the higher energy protons trapped in the inner belt can have a more significant radiation impact on space technology, the selected range of proton energy was from 70 to 180 MeV. Figure 4 illustrates the SEP spectrum of the worst-case scenario developed by Xapsos et al (1999Xapsos et al ( , 2000, and the inner proton belt spectrum computed by AP8 model (de Soria-Santacruz Pich et al, 2017). The output figure looks similar to the one published by Wilson (1978).…”

Section: Targeted Scenariomentioning

confidence: 78%

Geomagnetic Storm Effects on the LEO Proton Flux During Solar Energetic Particle Events

Girgis,

Hada,

Yoshikawa

et al. 2023

Space Weather

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During a few solar energetic particle (SEP) events, solar protons were trapped within the geomagnetic field and reached the outer edge of the inner radiation belt. We reproduced this phenomenon by modeling the proton flux distribution at the Low‐Earth Orbit (LEO) for different geomagnetic conditions during solar particle events. We developed a three‐dimensional relativistic test particle simulation code to compute the 70–180 MeV solar proton Lorentz trajectories in low L‐shell range from 1 to 3. The Tsyganenko model (T01) generated the background static magnetic field with the IGRF (v12) model. We have selected three Dst index values: −7, −150, and −210 nT, to define quiet time, strong, and severe geomagnetic storms and to generate the corresponding inner magnetic field configurations. Our results showed that the simulated solar proton flux was more enhanced in the high‐latitude regions and more expanded toward the lower latitude range as long as the geomagnetic storm was intensified. Satellite observations and geomagnetic cutoff rigidities confirmed the numerical results. Furthermore, the LEO proton flux distribution was deformed, so the structure of the proton flux inside the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) became longitudinally extended as the Dst index decreased. Moreover, we have assessed the corresponding radiation environment of the LEO mission. We realized that, for a higher inclined LEO mission during an intense geomagnetic storm (Dst = −210 nT), the probability of the occurrence of the Single Event Upset (SEU) rates increased by 19% and the estimated accumulated absorbed radiation doses increased by 17% in comparison with quiet conditions.

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“…MagEIS data were also used as part of the assessment of climatology models of the radiation belts (de Soria-Santacruz Pich et al. 2017 ).…”

Section: Scientific Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer: A Review of On-Orbit Sensor Performance, Data, Operations, and Science

et al. 2021

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Measurements from NASA’s Van Allen Probes have transformed our understanding of the dynamics of Earth’s geomagnetically-trapped, charged particle radiation. The Van Allen Probes were equipped with the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometers (MagEIS) that measured energetic and relativistic electrons, along with energetic ions, in the radiation belts. Accurate and routine measurement of these particles was of fundamental importance towards achieving the scientific goals of the mission. We provide a comprehensive review of the MagEIS suite’s on-orbit performance, operation, and data products, along with a summary of scientific results. The purpose of this review is to serve as a complement to the MagEIS instrument paper, which was largely completed before flight and thus focused on pre-flight design and performance characteristics. As is the case with all space-borne instrumentation, the anticipated sensor performance was found to be different once on orbit. Our intention is to provide sufficient detail on the MagEIS instruments so that future generations of researchers can understand the subtleties of the sensors, profit from these unique measurements, and continue to unlock the mysteries of the near-Earth space radiation environment.

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Empirical radiation belt models: Comparison with in situ data and implications for environment definition

Cited by 10 publications

References 34 publications

Analysis of Radiation Belt “Killer” Electron Energy Spectra

Analysis of Radiation Belt “Killer” Electron Energy Spectra

Geomagnetic Storm Effects on the LEO Proton Flux During Solar Energetic Particle Events

The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer: A Review of On-Orbit Sensor Performance, Data, Operations, and Science

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