2011 SuperDARN Workshop
ABSTRACTS
RBSP Mission: Understanding Particle Acceleration and Electrodynamics of the Inner Magnetosphere
A.Y. Ukhorskiy, B. Mauk, N. Fox
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
abstract. During past 50 years of space exploration and research our understating of radiation belts considerably evolved. It is now recognized that radiation belt fluxes exhibit highly dynamical nonlinear response to varying geomagnetic conditions with complex spatial and temporal properties. Some profound physical mysteries still remain. Their solution is critical for Space Weather applications at Earth as well as our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of high-energy particle acceleration and transport across the universe. Predictive understanding of dynamic variability of the belts requires a broad range of coordinated measurements of particles and fields that determine particle motions. NASA RBSP two-spacecraft mission in collaboration with other space missions, balloon and ground based observations will provide a complete set of measurements to address complex variability of the belts. We will discuss science goals and objectives of the RBSP mission and collaboration with SuperDARN to understand how global electrodynamics of the inner magnetosphere governs acceleration and variability of energetic particle populations in the belts.