Integrated study of effects of ULF waves on acceleration of radiation belt electrons based on a new ring current model

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24340118
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Space and upper atmospheric physics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2015); Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Seki Kanako 東京大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (20345854)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): AMANO Takanobu 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科, 助教 (00514853) ; SAITO Shinji 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 特任准教授 (60528165)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MIYOSHI Yoshizumi 名古屋大学, 太陽地球環境研究所, 准教授 (10377781) ; MATSUMOTO Yosuke 千葉大学, 理学研究科, 特任助教 (20397475)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 宇宙嵐 / ジオスペース / 内部磁気圏 / 環電流 / 放射線帯 / ULF波動 / イオン流出 / ドリフト運動論近似

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to understand acceleration mechanisms of relativistic electrons in Earth's radiation belt, it is important to understand coupling between electric/magnetic fields and plasma particles. In this study, we developed a new ring current model, which can solve time evolutions of the fields and ring current ions self-consistently. We conducted model-coupling simulations with this new model and our radiation belt model, which solves electron trajectories in arbitrary field configuration, to investigate interaction processes between ULF waves and relativistic electrons. One of our main results is about dependence of radial transport of relativistic electrons on electron parameters such as their energy and pitch angle. We also conducted data analysis study using satellite observation to investigate plasma supply processes to the inner magnetospheric plasma. The results include the upper limit of proton supply from the ionosphere.

Free Research Field

超高層物理学