Earth’s radiation belt consists of geomagnetically trapped energetic charged particles, including electrons, protons, and heavy ions. This penetrating radiation presents a significant hazard to astronauts and spacecraft. To assess and mitigate the hazard, particle distributions are measured using solid-state detector technology onboard Earth-orbiting satellites. Continuous monitoring of the belt is required as particle intensities vary with changing solar, interplanetary, and geomagnetic conditions. Meanwhile, measurement techniques and data analysis procedures are upgraded with technological advances. Theoretical and computational modeling of trapped particle source, loss, and transport processes are other valuable tools in understanding and assessing the state of the radiation belt. Opportunities exist for laboratory work on radiation detection techniques, for improving detector calibration methods using data from particle accelerator facilities, for analysis and interpretation of existing and future satellite particle data sets, and for advanced modeling of radiation belt processes.

 

References

Selesnick RS, Baker DN, Jaynes AN, Li X, Kanekal SG, Hudson MK, Kress BT: Journal of Geophysical Research 119: 10.1002/2014JA020188, 2014

Selesnick RS: Journal of Geophysical Research 117: 10.1029/2012JA017793, 2012

 

Keywords:

Radiation belt; Space environment; Charged particles; Protons; Electrons; Radiation detection; Data analysis; Modeling;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants