Modeling Inner Proton Belt Variability at Energies 1 to 10 MeV Using BAS-PRO ...
AbstractGeomagnetically trapped protons forming Earth's proton radiation belt pose a hazard to orbiting spacecraft. In particular, solar cell degradation is caused by non‐ionising collisions with protons at energies of several megaelectron volts (MeV), which can shorten mission lifespan. Dynami...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.17863/cam.79333 https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/331883 |
| Summary: | AbstractGeomagnetically trapped protons forming Earth's proton radiation belt pose a hazard to orbiting spacecraft. In particular, solar cell degradation is caused by non‐ionising collisions with protons at energies of several megaelectron volts (MeV), which can shorten mission lifespan. Dynamic enhancements in trapped proton flux following solar energetic particle events have been observed to last several months, and there is a strong need for physics‐based modeling to predict the impact on spacecraft. However, modeling proton belt variability at this energy is challenging because radial diffusion coefficients are not well constrained. We address this by using the British Antarctic Survey proton belt model BAS‐PRO to perform 3D simulations of the proton belt in the region 1.15 ≤ L ≤ 2 from 2014 to 2018. The model is driven by measurements from the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment and Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer instruments carried by the Van Allen Probe satellites. To ... |
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