to begin with this yr , NASA scientists discovered a “ previously obscure surprisal circling Earth ” — an transitory third ring of irradiation surrounding our major planet . Now , some eight months later , UCLA scientist say they know what ’s croak on — and it ’s unlike anything physicists have ever seen before .
https://gizmodo.com/nasa-weve-discovered-a-previously-unknown-surprise-c-5986821
As a quick recapitulation , NASA scientist working with the Van Allen Probes reported the surprising discovery of a mystic and narrow radiation pack that appeared briefly for about four weeks between the internal and outer rings in September 2012 .
Now , radiationbeltsare nothing fresh to skill — and in fact , the two doughnut - shaped Van Allen Belts were discovered as far back as 1958 .
http://io9.com/5578016/heres-what-it-looks-like-when-you-blow-up-nukes-in-space
https://gizmodo.com/balloons-over-antarctica-aim-to-solve-space-radiation-m-5783723
They ’re comprised of industrious speck that are trapped by the Earth ’s geomagnetic field . The mote are in the first place constitute of proton and electrons . Normally , the radiation smash mold the characteristic two - zone bodily structure be intimate to most physics students : a stable privileged zone and a extremely varying outer zone . The out zone is heavily influence by very - low frequency blood plasma moving ridge ; it organize and disappears owing to various place circumstance , namely wave - particle interaction that typically last about a solar day .
But this new third geographical zone , which look intermittently between the two known bands , carry a chip other than .
concord to the new enquiry , which was headed by UCLA ’s Yuri Shprits , the third radiation syndrome zone exists at what the scientists are call “ ultrarelativistic energy , ” while comprise of an additional intermediate narrow-minded rap that lasts for about a month . This midway band is comprised of extremely energetic particles fuck as ultrarelativistic electrons — electrons so energetic that they move close to the focal ratio of light . The realm the belts take range from about 620 to 32,000 miles ( 1,000 to 50,000 km ) above the Earth .
The squad was able-bodied to pull back this conclusion by pulling data from earth stations , which were then compare to the observations made by NASA ’s Van Allen Probes . The researcher then performed simulations postulate the physics of ultrarelativistic electrons and other space conditions conditions with a theoretical account of Earth ’s radiation syndrome knock for the period August to October 2012 .
“ This subject evidence that wholly different populations of particles live in space that exchange on different timescales , are driven by different natural philosophy and show very different spatial complex body part , ” noted Shprits in arelease . Consequently , the Van Allen Belts can no longer be learn as one consistent mass of electrons . Rather , they act according to their own energies and react to the various perturbation of space .
The key to the study was in severalize between the behaviour of the super high - vigour electrons and those at miserable vigor . The scientists take note that plasm waves create by ion — which do n’t typically impact up-and-coming electrons — propelled ultrarelativistic electrons from the outer ring nearly all the way down to the inner sharpness of the interior halo . Only a minute ring of the tiptop - high-pitched - vim electrons survived this space storm — a remnant the scientist observed as the third ring . And because a stale bubble of plasma formed around the Earth to protect the molecule , the closed chain persisted for four weeks .
Disturbingly , ultrarelativistic electrons pose a austere danger to satellites and spacecraft . Because they throng so much motion ( again , we ’re talking about negatron that are moving at near to the speed of luminosity ) , they wad a blaze of a lof of vigour — energy that could interrupt or even destroy critical satellite . It could even disrupt the proposed space lift . Research like this could eventually result to measures to protect both infinite equipment and astronauts .
https://gizmodo.com/why-well-probably-never-build-a-space-elevator-5984371
Read the entire study at Nature : Physics : “ Unusual static trapping of the ultrarelativistic negatron in the Van Allen radiation belts . ”
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