CAREER: Understanding Radiation Belt Electron Fast, Deep Injections in the Inner Magnetosphere

这个职业项目的重点是地球的辐射带，那里布满了高能电子，为在其中运行的航天器提供了危险的辐射环境。了解辐射带电子的动力学具有重要的科学意义和实用价值。高能电子深注入被认为是内带的主要来源；然而，导致这种深注入的机制仍不清楚。该项目旨在建立一个综合的研究和教育计划，以了解高能电子的快速、深度注入和空间辐射环境，并增加来自历史上代表性不足的群体的学生对空间物理的参与。该项目将在研究、推广和教育方面支持一名早期职业女性教员，并在研究和教育活动中培训研究生和本科生。教育部分涉及使用互动和适应性学习单元支持针对代表性不足群体的6至12年级学生的各种外联方案，使用循证科学教学战略重新设计空间物理课程，并在研究和教育活动中指导本科生和研究生。这些活动将共同吸引从六年级到研究生的学生，特别是女学生和来自STEM历史上代表性不足的群体的学生，启发空间物理方面的学习经验，并对STEM的渠道产生积极影响。该项目的总体研究目标是系统地研究辐射带电子(100s KeV)在磁层内的快速深注入特性，并量化大尺度准静态电场对这些注入的作用。综合教育的目标是通过吸引来自历史上代表性不足的群体的学生来启发空间物理方面的学习经验，来改善STEM渠道。要解决的三个目标包括：1)利用多航天器观测调查100s kev电子快速深注入的特征及其与太阳风/地磁条件和大规模准静态电场的关系；2)利用具体事件建模，量化100s kev电子快速深注入中大尺度电场的作用；以及3)开发关于空间辐射环境和空间天气影响的互动和适应性学习模块，通过针对历史上代表性不足的群体的6-12年级学生的外联方案传播，并纳入使用循证科学教学策略重新设计的本科生/研究生课程。这些目标将通过多航天器对高能电子和电场的观测、具体事件建模以及为各种外联和教育活动开发空间辐射环境学习模块来实现。该项目的成功完成将大大有助于我们对内辐射带形成的理解，促进准静态电场在辐射带动力学中长期被忽视但至关重要的作用，并对STEM管道产生积极影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This CAREER project focuses on Earth’s radiation belts, which are populated with energetic electrons and present a hazardous radiation environment for spacecraft operating within. Understanding the dynamics of radiation belt electrons is of scientific interest and practical need. Energetic electron deep injection is believed to be the dominant source of the inner belt; however, the mechanism causing such deep injections is still unclear. This project aims to establish an integrated program of research and education centered on understanding energetic electron fast, deep injections and space radiation environment and increasing the involvement of students from historically underrepresented groups in space physics. This project will support an early-career female faculty member in research, outreach, and education efforts and train graduate and undergraduate students in both research and education activities. The education component involves support for various outreach programs targeted at 6-12th grade students from underrepresented groups using an interactive and adaptive learning module, redesigning a space physics course using evidence-based scientific teaching strategies, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in both research and education activities. Together, these activities will engage students from 6th grade to graduate level, especially female students and those from historically underrepresented groups in STEM, in inspiring learning experiences in space physics and positively impact the STEM pipeline. The overarching research goal of this project is to systematically investigate the characteristics of radiation belt electron (100s of keV) fast, deep injections in the inner magnetosphere and quantify the role of large-scale, quasi-static electric fields on these injections. The integrated education goal is to improve the STEM pipeline by engaging students from historically underrepresented groups in inspiring learning experiences in space physics. Three objectives to be addressed include: 1) Investigate the characteristics of 100s of keV electron fast, deep injections and their relation to the solar wind/geomagnetic conditions and large-scale, quasi-static electric fields using multispacecraft observations; 2) Quantify the role of large-scale electric fields in 100s of keV electron fast, deep injections using event-specific modeling; and 3) Develop an interactive and adaptive learning module on space radiation environment and space weather impacts to disseminate via outreach programs targeting 6-12th grade students from historically underrepresented groups and integrate into an undergraduate/graduate course redesigned using evidence-based scientific teaching strategies. These objectives will be achieved through multispacecraft observations of energetic electrons and electric fields, event-specific modeling, and developing a learning module on space radiation environment for various outreach and educational activities. The successful completion of this project will significantly contribute to our understanding of the inner radiation belt formation, promote the long-neglected but critical role of quasi-static electric fields in radiation belt dynamics, and positively impact the STEM pipeline.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.