A model of bounce-averaged relativistic protons with emphasis on the March 1991 magnetospheric compression
dc.contributor.advisor | Chan, Anthony Arthur | en_US |
dc.creator | Braaten, Karsten Eric | en_US |
dc.date.accessioned | 2009-06-04T08:09:49Z | en_US |
dc.date.available | 2009-06-04T08:09:49Z | en_US |
dc.date.issued | 1997 | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | We 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. | en_US |
dc.format.extent | 50 p. | en_US |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en_US |
dc.identifier.callno | THESIS SP. SCI. 1997 BRAATEN | en_US |
dc.identifier.citation | Braaten, 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>. | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17066 | en_US |
dc.language.iso | eng | en_US |
dc.rights | Copyright 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. | en_US |
dc.subject | Geophysics | en_US |
dc.subject | Plasma physics | en_US |
dc.title | A model of bounce-averaged relativistic protons with emphasis on the March 1991 magnetospheric compression | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.type.material | Text | en_US |
thesis.degree.department | Space Science | en_US |
thesis.degree.discipline | Natural Sciences | en_US |
thesis.degree.grantor | Rice University | en_US |
thesis.degree.level | Masters | en_US |
thesis.degree.name | Master of Science | en_US |
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