A model of bounce-averaged relativistic protons with emphasis on the March 1991 magnetospheric compression

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorChan, Anthony Arthur
dc.creatorBraaten, Karsten Eric
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T08:09:49Z
dc.date.available2009-06-04T08:09:49Z
dc.date.issued1997
dc.description.abstractWe have derived relativistically correct gyro- and bounce-averaged Hamiltonian equations of motion to describe the motions of non-isotropic proton distributions in the Earth's inner and middle magnetosphere. We have focused on the case of equatorially-mirroring protons, and we have modified the Magnetospheric Specification Model (MSM) to trace these particles. We call the new particle simulation the Radiation Belt Test Code (RBTC). We have modeled the March 1991 magnetic storm, which was an extremely strong magnetospheric compression in which protons were energized to 1 to 100 MeV on time scales of a few minutes. We have compared our results with CRESS data collected during the event, and with the simulation results of Hudson et al. (3). We see a significant flux increase, but it is not as large as the increase observed by CRRES. We conclude that our model correctly describes the gross features of high-energy magnetospheric protons, but that the present algorithm of the MSM is too computationally intensive to model these equations in a reasonable time, especially for the highest energy particles that we were interested in. Suggestions for improvements and alternative methods are suggested.
dc.format.extent50 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS SP. SCI. 1997 BRAATEN
dc.identifier.citationBraaten, Karsten Eric. "A model of bounce-averaged relativistic protons with emphasis on the March 1991 magnetospheric compression." (1997) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17066">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17066</a>.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/17066
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.subjectGeophysics
dc.subjectPlasma physics
dc.titleA model of bounce-averaged relativistic protons with emphasis on the March 1991 magnetospheric compression
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentSpace Science
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
1384343.PDF
Size:
1.88 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations