GEM: Transit-time Scattering of Energetic Electrons

地球的辐射带由一群高能电子组成，这些电子被地球名义上的偶极磁场捕获。 辐射带物理学中的一个主要挑战是识别和描述各种过程，这些过程有助于电子的迁移和损失，特别是在高度动态的地磁条件下。 这个为期3年的项目的目的是定量地了解一个新发现的波散射机制，称为渡越时间扩散，这有可能在辐射带的扩散中发挥重要作用。 这涉及到快磁声波的散射，这是一类以前没有被认为对这个问题很重要的波。 将使用建模和分析方法相结合的方法来回答一些关于这种新机制的基本问题，以及与其他波过程相比，它对辐射带动力学的相对重要性。该项目将主要由三名早期职业科学家组成的团队领导和实施，一名研究生也将作为该项目的一部分进行培训。辐射带中的高能电子通量是一个重要的空间气象问题，因为众所周知，它们会对现代社会日益依赖的天基资产产生不利影响。因此，更好地了解和预测辐射带的动态将有利于整个社会。

The Earth's radiation belts consist of a population of energetic electrons that is trapped by the Earth's nominally dipole magnetic field. A major challenge in radiation belt physics is identifying and describing the various processes that contribute to the energization of the electrons, and their loss, particularly uner highly dynamic geomagnetic conditions. The aim of this 3-year project is to quantitatively understand a newly discovered wave-scattering mechanism, termed transit-time diffusion, which has the potential to play an important role in radiation belt energization. This involves scattering by fast magnetosonic waves, which is a class of waves that has not previously been considered important for this problem. A combination of modeling and analytical approaches will be used to answer a number of fundamental questions about this new mechanism and its relative importance for radiation belt dynamics compared to other wave processes.The project will be led and carried out mainly by a team of three early-career scientist and a graduate student will also be trained as part of the project. Energetic electron fluxes in the radiation belts constitute an important space weather concern, as they are known to adversely affect space-based assets upon which modern society is increasingly dependent. Consequently, better understanding and prediction of radiation belt dynamics would be of benefit to society at large.