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Discovery of ions with nuclear charge Z greater than or equal to 9 stability trapped in the earth's radiation beltsObservations of MeV heavy ions obtained by Explorer 45 in an equatorial earth orbit during a 7 month period in 1972 are presented, including data from four major magnetic storms. The spacecraft contained a heavy ion detector telescope and heavy ion discriminator electronics. Heavy ions were distinguished from protons and electrons, and He ions and ions heavier than F were recorded on separate data channels. The L equals 2.25 to L equals 4 zones were probed, and it was found that the relative enhancement in heavy ion fluxes in the radiation belts over the prestorm ion flux intensities tends to increase with increasing ion mass and/or increasing ion energy in the MeV range. The radial profiles of ions with nucleon number greater than nine peak at L equals 2.9, and MeV ions in this class decay on time scales from 23 days at L equals 3.25 to 55 days at L equals 2.25. Indirect evidence indicated a solar source for the very heavy ions in the magnetosphere.
Document ID
19820032929
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Spjeldvik, W. N.
(Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences Boulder, CO, United States)
Fritz, T. A.
(NOAA, Space Environment Laboratory, Boulder CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1981
Subject Category
Space Radiation
Accession Number
82A16464
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ORDER S-50897-G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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