Theory for charge states of energetic oxygen ions in the earth's radiation belts

Journal Article · Fri Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA083iA04p01583· OSTI ID:6930520

Spjeldvik, W N; Fritz, T A

Fluxes of geomagnetically trapped energetic oxygen ions have been studied in detail. Ion distributions in radial locations below the geostationary orbit, energy spectra between 1 keV and 100 MeV, and the distribution over charge states have been computed for equatorially mirroring ions. Both ionospheric and solar wind oxygen ions sources have been considered, and it is found that the charge state distributions in the interior of the radiation belts are largely independent of the charge state characteristics of the sources. In the MeV range, oxygen ions prove to be a more sensitive probe for radiation belt dynamics than helium ion and protons.

• Research Organization: Space Environment Laboratory, NOAA/ERL, Boulder, Colorado 80302
• OSTI ID: 6930520
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 83:A4; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
KEV RANGE
MEV RANGE
OXYGEN IONS
RADIATION BELTS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPECTRA
TRAPPING