The magnetosphere acts as a natural plasma laboratory, hosting Earth’s radiation belts that are filled with high-energy particles. The energetic electrons pose risks to Earth-orbiting satellites and astronauts. The ERC-funded WIRE project plans to create detailed wave models using data from multiple satellites to better understand the dynamics of radiation belt electrons.
By developing improved wave models compared to current ones that are limited by satellite orbits, WIRE should help enhance established sophisticated radiation belt dynamic models, obtain more realistic diffusion coefficients, and assess electron acceleration and loss. The proposed research is vital for unravelling why radiation belts react differently to similarly intense geomagnetic storms, and will also have important implications for basic plasma and astronomy physics.
Project Duration
6. 2024 - 5. 2029
Funding
EU
Principal Investigators
Dr. Dedong Wang (GFZ)
Cooperations
- Prof. Yoshizumi Miyoshi (Nagoya Universität)
- Prof. Yoshiharu Omura (Kyoto Universität)
- Prof. Ondrej Santolik (CAS)