Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1767301 | Advances in Space Research | 2008 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
The results of proton energy (tens keV - several MeV) spectrum measurements near geomagnetic equator (LÂ <Â 1.15) at low altitudes (<1000Â km) are presented. We used data of experiments onboard ACTIVE, SAMPEX, NOAA TIROS-N satellites and SPRUT-VI (MIR station) and cover a time range of about 30 years (including previous measurements). It was found that the kappa-distribution function fits the experimental spectrum with the best correlation coefficient. A comparison of energy spectra of near-equatorial protons and ring-current protons was made. Using the estimation of the life time of near-equatorial protons we explain the difference in spectral indices of radiation belt and near-equatorial proton formation. We conclude that the ring current is the main source of the near-equatorial protons.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Space and Planetary Science
Authors
A.N. Petrov, O.R. Grigoryan, M.I. Panasyuk,