Source of Radiation Belt Electrons

外辐射带中高能电子的来源仍然是一个谜。一个通过向内径向扩散解释电子起源的模型已经成功地解释了辐射带的许多特征，但该模型要求具有高相空间密度的电子源必须位于辐射带区域之外。径向输运模型假定第一和(通常)第二绝热不变量是守恒的，而第三绝热不变量是守恒的。这意味着电子必须从具有较高相空间密度的区域向内传输。该项目将利用极地、风能、SAMPEX和洛斯阿拉莫斯卫星的数据来确定源区在哪里，以及它如何随着太阳风条件的变化而变化。然后，将利用径向输运模型来量化电子的能化，并将该过程与其他竞争过程进行比较，如局部波加热和再循环。

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.