Multipoint Magnetospheric Studies

磁暴期间辐射带高能电子的来源一直是磁层物理中未解决的问题。在最常见的模型中，电子首先在近地等离子体片中被加速，这些加速的粒子为辐射带提供了“种子”种群。在这个模型下，种子电子在辐射带中经历进一步的加速。最近，一些研究质疑这种种子种群是否必要。从这个观点来看，电子在辐射带中被局部加速。本提案将调查是否需要种子种群。调查人员将利用THEMIS卫星、货车艾伦探测器、SWARM（欧空局的一项使命）和e-POP（加拿大的一项使命）的观测结果，研究电子的相空间密度随径向距离的变化。这是一项使用多个事件的统计研究，PI长期以来一直让中学生参与其研究。他为高中生设计的研究项目非常成功。他将继续在这项赠款。该提案的研究成果对于空间气象应用十分重要。

The source of energetic electrons in the radiation belts during magnetic storms has long been and remains an unsolved problem in magnetospheric physics. In the most common model electrons are first accelerated in the near-Earth plasma sheet and these accelerated particles provide a "seed" population for the radiation belts. Under this model the seed electrons undergo further acceleration in the radiation belts. Recently some studies have questioned whether or not this seed population is necessary. In this view the electrons are locally accelerated in the radiation belts. This proposal will investigate whether or not a seed population is necessary. The investigators will examine the phase space density of electrons as a function of radial distance by using observations from the THEMIS satellites, the Van Allen Probes, SWARM (an ESA mission) and e-POP (a Canadian mission). This will be a statistical study that uses a number of events.The PI has long involved secondary school students in his research. His research projects for high school students have been very successful. He will continue this under this grant. The research findings from this proposal are important for space weather applications.