Maps of hydrogen isotopes at low altitudes in the inner zone from SAMPEX observations

Adv Space Res. 1998;21(12):1679-82. doi: 10.1016/s0273-1177(98)00014-3.

Abstract

The PET instrument aboard the SAMPEX satellite has provided us with long-term intra-calibrated observations of geomagnetically trapped protons and deuterons in the inner zone, suitable for use in constraining the low-altitude portions of radiation belt models being developed as successors to AP-8. These observations have been summarized elsewhere (Looper et al., 1996). Here we report a detection of geomagnetically-trapped tritum at energies from 14 to 35 MeV/nuc below L = 1.2, at about 1/8 the flux of deuterium previously reported at that location and at similar energy per nucleon. We also demonstrate the utility of the SAMPEX/PET observations for measuring the east-west anisotropy in the trapped particle flux at low altitudes, which is due to displacement of particle gyrocenters from the position of observation in a region of strong flux gradients. This anisotropy is implicitly ignored in omnidirectional radiation-flux models, but it can be important to mission planners considering how to distribute shielding over the surface of oriented spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Deuterium*
  • Electrons
  • Magnetics
  • Protons
  • Radiation Monitoring
  • Radiation Protection
  • Solar Activity*
  • South America
  • Space Flight / instrumentation*
  • Spacecraft / instrumentation*
  • Tritium*

Substances

  • Protons
  • Tritium
  • Deuterium