Physics of Earth's Radiation Belts

Theory and Observations

Hannu E. J. Koskinen, Emilia K. J. Kilpua

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9783030821661
• eBook ISBN: 9783030821678
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Astronomy & Astrophysics

This open access book serves as textbook on the physics of the radiation belts surrounding the Earth. Discovered in 1958 the famous Van Allen Radiation belts were among the first scientific discoveries of the Space Age. Throughout the following decades the belts have been under intensive investigation motivated by the risks of radiation hazards they expose to electronics and humans on spacecraft in the Earth's inner magnetosphere.

This textbook teaches the field from basic theory of particles and plasmas to observations which culminated in the highly successful Van Allen Probes Mission of NASA in 2012-2019. Using numerous data examples the authors explain the relevant concepts and theoretical background of the extremely complex radiation belt region, with the emphasis on giving a comprehensive and coherent understanding of physical processes affecting the dynamics of the belts. The target audience are doctoral students and young researchers who wish to learn about the physicalprocesses underlying the acceleration, transport and loss of the radiation belt particles in the perspective of the state-of-the-art observations.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Front Matter
• 1. Radiation Belts and Their Environment
• 2. Charged Particles in Near-Earth Space
• 3. From Charged Particles to Plasma Physics
• 4. Plasma Waves in the Inner Magnetosphere
• 5. Drivers and Properties of Waves in the Inner Magnetosphere
• 6. Particle Source and Loss Processes
• 7. Dynamics of the Electron Belts
• Back Matter