Explaining the dynamics of the ultra-relativistic third Van Allen radiation belt

Mann, I. R.; Ozeke, L. G.; Murphy, K. R.; Claudepierre, S. G.; Turner, D. L.; Baker, D. N.; Rae, I. J.; Kale, A.; Milling, D. K.; Boyd, A. J.; Spence, H. E.; Reeves, Geoffrey D.; Singer, H. J.; Dimitrakoudis, S.; Daglis, I. A.; Honary, F.

doi:10.1038/nphys3799

Title: Explaining the dynamics of the ultra-relativistic third Van Allen radiation belt

Journal Article · Mon Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Nature Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3799· OSTI ID:1338757

^[1]; Ozeke, L. G. ^[1]; Murphy, K. R. ^[2]; Claudepierre, S. G. ^[3]; Turner, D. L. ^[3]; Baker, D. N. ^[4]; Rae, I. J. ^[5]; Kale, A. ^[1]; Milling, D. K. ^[1]; Boyd, A. J. ^[6]; Spence, H. E. ^[6]; Reeves, Geoffrey D. ^[7]; Singer, H. J. ^[8];

^[9]; Daglis, I. A. ^[10]; Honary, F. ^[11]

Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada). Dept. of Physics
Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada). Dept. of Physics; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)
The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States). Lab. for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Univ. College London (UCL), Holmbury St. Mary (United Kingdom). Mullard Space Science Lab.
Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States). Inst. for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Space and Atmospheric Sciences (NIS-1) Group
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO (United States). Space Weather Prediction Center
National Observatory of Athens, Penteli (Greece). Inst. for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing
National Observatory of Athens, Penteli (Greece). Inst. for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing; National and Kapodistrian Univ. of Athens (Greece). Dept. of Physics
Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom). Dept. of Physics

Since the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts over 50 years ago, an explanation for their complete dynamics has remained elusive. Especially challenging is understanding the recently discovered ultra-relativistic third electron radiation belt. Current theory asserts that loss in the heart of the outer belt, essential to the formation of the third belt, must be controlled by high-frequency plasma wave–particle scattering into the atmosphere, via whistler mode chorus, plasmaspheric hiss, or electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves. However, this has failed to accurately reproduce the third belt. In this paper, using a data-driven, time-dependent specification of ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves we show for the first time how the third radiation belt is established as a simple, elegant consequence of storm-time extremely fast outward ULF wave transport. High-frequency wave–particle scattering loss into the atmosphere is not needed in this case. Finally, when rapid ULF wave transport coupled to a dynamic boundary is accurately specified, the sensitive dynamics controlling the enigmatic ultra-relativistic third radiation belt are naturally explained.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB (Canada); Univ. College London (UCL), Holmbury St. Mary (United Kingdom); NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, MD (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) (United Kingdom); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (United Kingdom); Canadian Space Agency (CSA); European Union (EU); European Commission (EC)

Contributing Organization:: The Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Boulder, CO (United States); National Observatory of Athens, Penteli (Greece); National and Kapodistrian Univ. of Athens (Greece); Lancaster Univ. (United Kingdom)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396; NAS5-01072; NAS5-02099; ST/L000563/1; NE/L007495/1; 284520

OSTI ID:: 1338757

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-16-20639

Journal Information:: Nature Physics, Vol. 12, Issue 10; ISSN 1745-2473

Publisher:: Nature Publishing Group (NPG)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 94 works

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