Ionospheric heating for radiation-belt control

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:7173966

Burke, W J; Villalon, E

Pitch-angle scattering interactions of electromagnetic waves in the ELF/VLF bands with trapped electrons, as formulated by Kennel and Petschek 1, describe the dynamics of the freshly filled radiation belts flux tubes. The natural existence of a slot region with electron fluxes below the Kennel-Petschek limit requires non-local wave sources. We describe a set of planned, active experiments in which VLF radiation will be injected from ground and space based transmitters in conjunction with the CRRES satellite in the radiation belts. These experiments will measure the intensity of waves driving pitch-angle diffusion and the electron energies in gyroresonance with the waves. An ability to reduce the flux of energetic particles trapped in the radiation belts by artificial means could improve the reliability of microelectronic components on earth-observing satellites in middle-altitude orbits.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7173966
• Report Number(s): AD-P-006520/1/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DIFFUSION
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FERMIONS
HEATING
INTERACTIONS
IONOSPHERE
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MICROELECTRONICS
NOISE
PARTICLE LOSSES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA HEATING
RADIATION BELTS
RADIATION FLUX
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RELIABILITY
SATELLITES
TRAPPED ELECTRONS
WHISTLERS