Discovery of the action of a geophysical synchrotron in the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts

Mann, Ian R. and Lee, E.A. and Claudepierre, S. G. and Fennell, J. F. and Degeling, A. and Rae, I. J. and Baker, D.N. and Reeves, G. D. and Spence, H. E. and Ozeke, L. G. and Rankin, R. and Milling, David K. and Kale, A. and Friedel, R. W. H. and Honary, Farideh (2013) Discovery of the action of a geophysical synchrotron in the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts. Nature Communications, 4: 2795. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

Although the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts were discovered over 50 years ago, the dominant processes responsible for relativistic electron acceleration, transport and loss remain poorly understood. Here we show evidence for the action of coherent acceleration due to resonance with ultra-low frequency waves on a planetary scale. Data from the CRRES probe, and from the recently launched multi-satellite NASA Van Allen Probes mission, with supporting modelling, collectively show coherent ultra-low frequency interactions which high energy resolution data reveals are far more common than either previously thought or observed. The observed modulations and energy-dependent spatial structure indicate a mode of action analogous to a geophysical synchrotron; this new mode of response represents a significant shift in known Van Allen radiation belt dynamics and structure. These periodic collisionless betatron acceleration processes also have applications in understanding the dynamics of, and periodic electromagnetic emissions from, distant plasma-astrophysical systems.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Nature Communications
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1300
Subjects:
?? general biochemistry,genetics and molecular biologygeneral chemistrygeneral physics and astronomybiochemistry, genetics and molecular biology(all)chemistry(all)physics and astronomy(all) ??
ID Code:
68600
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
13 Feb 2014 10:23
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
16 Jul 2024 09:32