Sun ID: 4480

Prompt Electron Acceleration in the Radiation Belts

Visualizations by Tom Bridgman Released on August 15, 2016

On March 17, 2016, Van Allen Probe A detected a pulse of high energy electrons in the radiation belts, generated by the impact of a recent coronal mass ejection striking Earth's magnetosphere. The gradient drift speed of the electron pulse was high enough, that it propagated completely around Earth and was detected by the spacecraft again as the pulse spread out in the radiation belt. Because the particles have a range of energies, the pulse spread out as it moved around Earth, generating a weaker signal the next time it hit the spacecraft.

A pulse of electrons is injected into the radiation belts by impact of a passing coronal mass ejection (CME). The electrons gyrate around the magnetic field lines, mirroring at high and low latitudes.

Once the pulse of accelerated electrons are injected into the radiation belts, the magnetic gradient drift guides them around Earth where they serendipitiously strike the particle detectors of Van Allen Probe A.

Used Elsewhere In

Visualization Credits

Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Visualizer
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Genna Duberstein (USRA): Lead Producer
Shrikanth G. Kanekal (NASA/GSFC): Lead Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4480

Missions:
Radiation Belt Storm Probes/Van Allen Probes - RBSP
Van Allen Probes

Data Used:

Van Allen Probes/Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite also referred to as: ECT

Observed Data - University of New Hampshire

view all stories where this data set is used

ParticleSimulator

Model

view all stories where this data set is used

Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

Keywords:
SVS >> Geomagnetic Field
SVS >> HDTV
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Solid Earth >> Geomagnetism >> Magnetic Field
SVS >> Radiation Belts
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Sun

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0