Source of Radiation Belt Electrons

外辐射带中高能电子的来源仍然是个谜。 一个模型解释的起源，通过向内的径向扩散的电子已被用来成功地解释辐射带的许多功能，但该模型需要一个高相空间密度的电子源，它必须位于辐射带区域之外。 径向输运模型假设第一个和（通常）第二个绝热不变量是守恒的，但第三个不是。 这意味着电子必须从相空间密度较高的区域向内传输。 该项目将利用Polar、Wind、SAMPEX和Los Alamos卫星提供的数据，确定该源区的位置以及它如何随太阳风条件变化。 然后，将利用径向传输模型来量化电子束流，并将该过程与其他竞争过程（如波和再循环引起的局部加热）进行比较。

The source of the highly energetic electrons in the out radiation belt has remained a mystery. A model explaining the origin of the electrons through inward radial diffusion has been utilized to successfully explain many features of the radiation belt but the model requires a source of electrons with a high phase space density which must lie outside the radiation belt region. The radial transport model assumes that the first and (usually) the second adiabatic invariants are conserved, but the third is not. This implies that electrons must be transported inward from a region of higher phase space density. This project will utilize data from the Polar, Wind, SAMPEX and Los Alamos satellites to determine where that source region is and how it varies with solar wind conditions. The radial transport model will then be utilized to quantify the electron energization and compare the process with other competing processes such as localized heating by waves and recirculation.