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New research explains loss of electrons from Van Allen radiation belts

Ultra-relativistic electrons, "killer electrons," are the type of radiation most damaging to satellites.

By Brooks Hays

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Since the 1960s, scientists have trying to understand how and why electrons are lost from the Van Allen radiation belts encircling Earth.

Earth is surrounded by three belts of radiation, full of high-energy electrons, protons and ions. The belts are constantly in flux. In order to better protect satellites and spacecraft from the radiation, scientists have been trying to understand how the belts behave.

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Until recently, scientists believed the influx of heavier electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves were the most likely cause of sudden loss of electrons from the belts. These waves pushed electrons into the atmosphere, astronomers argued.

In 2006, researchers suggested the majority of particles in the belt were lost as electrons diffused into interplanetary space -- lost in the opposite direction.

Scientists couldn't decide which mechanism was the most likely culprit for the belts' particle losses. There was one point of agreement, though: solar storms exacerbated the loss of particles.

In 2013, astronomers got a chance to test their different theories. As a solar storm approached the radiation belts, researchers successfully mapped the movements of relativistic and ultra-relativistic electrons. Astronomers also measured particle speed, velocity direction and radial distributions of the electrons.

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The data showed the solar storm winds were pushing electrons into the atmosphere, but only ultra-relativistic electrons -- "killer electrons," the particle most damaging to satellites -- were being affected.

"Our findings resolve a fundamental scientific question about our space environment and may help develop methods of cleaning up the radiation belts from harmful radiation and make the environment around the Earth friendlier for satellites," Yuri Shprits, a research geophysicist at UCLA, said in a news release.

Scientists published their latest analysis of radiation belt particle movement in the journal Nature Communications.

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