British Antarctic Survey Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
British Antarctic Survey
Department Name: Science Programmes
Abstract
Within the magnetic fields of planets that extend into space, energetic charged particles are trapped creating regions that are hazardous to spacecraft and humans. The way these radiation belts grow and decline is a major focus of scientific endeavour in space science. Understanding the fundamental principles of how these dangerous regions in space behave is vital for predicting the level of hazard they pose to spacecraft.
In the last three years a new and very rapid mechanism for transporting electrons towards the planet has been discovered at Saturn. This is a significant change from the decades old theory that has been assumed to underlie the motion of electrons towards or away from the planet. The goal of this project is to test the effects of this new mechanism on the behaviour of Saturn's radiation belt in conjunction with what we have also discovered in the past few years about the effects of waves on energetic electrons at Saturn.
The results will show us how the unique conditions in Saturn's space environment combine local acceleration and loss processes with this new mode of transporting electrons towards the planet. This will also help to determine whether resonant wave acceleration and loss of electrons is a universal process that is more widely applicable to the Sun and other astrophysical objects such as the increasing number of planets discovered outside our Solar System.
This project will aid with setting new research goals for future spacecraft missions to the planets and investigations of planets beyond our Solar system, provide research training for young scientists, develop computer models that will be of use to the space industry in planning future missions to the outer planets, and leave a legacy of understanding that will last long after the completion of the project.
In the last three years a new and very rapid mechanism for transporting electrons towards the planet has been discovered at Saturn. This is a significant change from the decades old theory that has been assumed to underlie the motion of electrons towards or away from the planet. The goal of this project is to test the effects of this new mechanism on the behaviour of Saturn's radiation belt in conjunction with what we have also discovered in the past few years about the effects of waves on energetic electrons at Saturn.
The results will show us how the unique conditions in Saturn's space environment combine local acceleration and loss processes with this new mode of transporting electrons towards the planet. This will also help to determine whether resonant wave acceleration and loss of electrons is a universal process that is more widely applicable to the Sun and other astrophysical objects such as the increasing number of planets discovered outside our Solar System.
This project will aid with setting new research goals for future spacecraft missions to the planets and investigations of planets beyond our Solar system, provide research training for young scientists, develop computer models that will be of use to the space industry in planning future missions to the outer planets, and leave a legacy of understanding that will last long after the completion of the project.
Publications
Kavanagh A
(2022)
Two Techniques for Determining F-Region Ion Velocities at Meso-Scales: Differences and Impacts on Joule Heating
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Woodfield E
(2023)
MIST reunited
in Astronomy & Geophysics
Description | Dr J D Menietti |
Organisation | University of Iowa |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I lead the research project |
Collaborator Contribution | Analysis of data from the Galileo probae at Jupiter and Cassini spacecraft at Saturn |
Impact | see our research papers |
Description | Dunn and Yao |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Department of Space and Climate Physics (MSSL) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have worked on providing evidence of the link between ion cyclotron waves and the Xray aurora at Jupiter using the PADIE code created at BAS. |
Collaborator Contribution | William Dunn at MSSL and Zhonghua Yao at University of Liege work with the observational data from Xray telescopes and in-situ data from the Juno spacecraft and asked me to see if the code we have at BAS could support a potential link between ion cyclotron wave activity seen at Juno and Xray aurora in simultaneous observations. |
Impact | 2 publications in preparation. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Dunn and Yao |
Organisation | University of Liege |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have worked on providing evidence of the link between ion cyclotron waves and the Xray aurora at Jupiter using the PADIE code created at BAS. |
Collaborator Contribution | William Dunn at MSSL and Zhonghua Yao at University of Liege work with the observational data from Xray telescopes and in-situ data from the Juno spacecraft and asked me to see if the code we have at BAS could support a potential link between ion cyclotron wave activity seen at Juno and Xray aurora in simultaneous observations. |
Impact | 2 publications in preparation. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Elias Roussos |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Dr Roussos is leading a grant application to the Horizon Europe scheme on which I am a work package leader. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Roussos is leading a grant application to the Horizon Europe scheme on which I am a work package leader. |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Yuri Shprits |
Organisation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific input to research papers. |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific input to research papers. |
Impact | Shprits, Y. Y., J. D. Menietti, X. Gu, K. C. Kim, and R. B. Horne (2012), Gyro-resonant interactions between the radiation belt electrons and whistler mode chorus waves in the radiation environments of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn, a comparative study, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A11216, doi: 10.1029/2012JA018031. Menietti, J. D., Y. Y. Shprits, R. B. Horne, E. Woodfield, G. B. Hospodarsky, and D. A. Gurnett (2012), Chorus, ECH, and Z-mode emissions observed at Jupiter 2 and Saturn and possible electron acceleration, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A12214, doi: 12210.11029/12012JA018187. Woodfield, E. E., R. B. Horne, S.A. Glauert, J. D. Menietti, and Y. Y. Shprits (2013), Electron acceleration at Jupiter: greater input from cyclotron-resonant interaction with whistler-mode chorus waves, Ann Geophys., 31, 1619-1630, doi:10.5194/angeo-31-1619-2013. not multi-disciplinary |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | St Neots Astronomical Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a talk to St Neots Astronomical Society. A relatively small society, there were about 10 people there. This was my first visit to this particular society and they were keen to invite me back in future. There was much discussion after my presentation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Stour Astronomical Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a presentation to Stour Astronomical Society. This was my third invitation to visit to this society. Approximately 15 people attended and there were many interesting questions and discussion at the end of my talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |