Researchers have found hidden waves to clear the Earth of dangerous electrons
A hidden mechanism has been discovered in the Earth's magnetic shield to purify radiation belts from ultrafast "killer electrons" capable of destroying satellite electronics and threatening astronauts' lives. According to the study, special plasma waves with an abnormally strong electric field play a key role in this process. This was reported on June 18 by the Science X news portal.
A group of researchers led by Yang Lisyan analyzed data from the Van Allen probes of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) over three years of operation. Scientists have identified a population of so-called coherent "chorus waves", which were previously ignored in standard physical models. Unlike typical magnetic oscillations, these strongly inclined quasi-electrostatic waves have a powerful electric charge.
Traditional models assumed that waves in radiation belts propagate strictly along the lines of force of the Earth's magnetic field. However, the probe data showed that in areas with low plasma density, the waves can "tilt" at extreme angles. In this state, their magnetic force weakens, and the electric field, on the contrary, begins to dominate.
"This study expands our understanding of the interaction of chorus waves and energetic electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere and provides new opportunities for modeling the dynamics of the global radiation belt," the authors note.
Thanks to a powerful electrical pulse, such waves literally knock high-energy particles (up to 2 MeV) out of their orbits, sending them into the Earth's atmosphere. This process, called pitch angle diffusion, makes it possible to effectively purify near-Earth space from radiation.
The Van Allen radiation belts are torus-shaped regions where charged particles are trapped. Electrons with energies above 0.1 MeV are extremely dangerous for technology, as they cause "deep charging" of sensitive spacecraft components. Understanding the mechanisms of their natural withdrawal from the belts is critically important for planning future missions and protecting the orbital infrastructure.
On this day, Science X reported the discovery of salt clouds in the atmosphere of the pink planet GJ504b. According to the publication, during the study, scientists have identified a complex chemical mixture: traces of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia. After analyzing the three types of clouds, the researchers concluded that the salt clouds correspond to the atmosphere of GJ504b.
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