Speaker
Prof.
Dennis Papadopoulos
(University of Maryland)
Description
After many decades of successful and frontier RB science fundamental physics questions remain either unresolved or the answers involve great uncertainty. Current experimental techniques that use mainly correlative spacecraft observations have difficulties in resolving questions such as:
What is the attenuation rate of Shear Alfven (SA) waves propagating towards the conjugates? Are there regions of mode conversion of SA waves to EMIC waves and what are the characteristics of the resonant conversion? What are the properties of the EMIC waves? What are the pitch angle scattering rates of relativistic electrons by EMIC waves? What are the pitch angle scattering rates of multi-MeV protons by SA waves? What are the properties of Field Line Resonances in the inner RB? What is the non-linear physics of triggered emissions? Is there an Ionospheric Alfven Resonator (IAR) structure in the inner RB and what are its characteristics? What is the physics of quasi-periodic VLF pulsations and associated electron precipitation? How do Pc1 waves propagate?
The main difficulty is that the source of the waves and its location cannot be identified with certainty. One is faced with the classic “chicken and egg” problem. The next few years present us with a unique opportunity to conduct active cause-and-effect experiments in both the inner outer RB with major implications to the overall understanding of .wave propagation and wave-particle interaction physics. This unique scientific opportunity is enabled by the coincidence of two major events. (i) The availability of HF ionospheric heaters spanning all relevant L-shells that can inject in controlled fashion waves in the ULF/ELF/VLF into the RB; (ii) The extensive satellite diagnostic coverage that includes missions such as the Van-Allen mission, ePoP/Cassiope, DSX, ERG, ORBITALS (?) and last but not least the Russian RESONANCE mission.
Following a brief introduction of the physics of injecting low frequency waves in the RB by using modulated ionospheric HF heating the paper will describe examples of upcoming studies of probing the inner RB by using ULF/ELF waves generated by the new Arecibo heater and the unique opportunities of joint HAARP/RESONANCE experiments.
Primary author
Prof.
Dennis Papadopoulos
(University of Maryland)
