Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• 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, G. D.
• Singer, H. J.
• Dimitrakoudis, S.
• Daglis, I. A.
• Honary, F.

Titel

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

Ist Teil von

• Nature physics, 2016-10, Vol.12 (10), p.978-983

Ort / Verlag

London: Nature Publishing Group

Erscheinungsjahr

2016

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• 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 waveparticle 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. Using a data-driven, time-dependent specication 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 waveparticle scattering loss into the atmosphere is not needed in this case. When rapid ULF wave transport coupled to a dynamic boundary is accurately specied, the sensitive dynamics controlling the enigmatic ultra-relativistic third radiation belt are naturally explained.