A Multiple Balloon Campaign to Study Relativistic Electron Loss Mechanisms

Details A Multiple Balloon Campaign to Study Relativistic Electron Loss Mechanisms A Multiple Balloon Campaign to Study Relativistic Electron Loss Mechanisms

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004agufmsm41a1105m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2004, abstract #SM41A-1105

Physics

2716 Energetic Particles, Precipitating, 2730 Magnetosphere: Inner, 2794 Instruments And Techniques

Scientific paper

The MINIS balloon campaign will be conducted in January 2005 to investigate relativistic electron loss mechanisms. Quantifying and understanding losses is an integral part of understanding the variability of relativistic electrons in the radiation belts. Balloon-based experiments directly measure precipitation and thus provide a method for quantifying losses, while the nearly stationary platform allows for the separation of temporal and spatial variations. The MINIS campaign will provide the first multi-point measurements of electron precipitation up to MeV energies, including simultaneous measurements at different longitudes and at conjugate locations. We will also obtain the first correlated optical and MeV X-ray observations. Two balloons, each carrying an X-ray spectrometer for measuring the bremsstrahlung produced as electrons precipitate into the atmosphere, and an H-beta photometer to detect correlated proton precipitation, will be launched from Churchill, Manitoba. Four balloons, each carrying an X-ray spectrometer, a Z-axis searchcoil magnetometer, and a 3-axis electric field instrument providing DC electric field and VLF measurements in 3 frequency bands, will be launched from the South African Antarctic Station (SANAE). Each payload will be carried to 120,000 ft ( ˜35 km) on a 300,000 cubic foot balloon; the northern payloads will remain aloft for 1-2 days covering L-values 4.5-7.8 while the southern balloons will stay at float altitude for about 8 days, ranging from L ˜4 into the polar cap. We will investigate whether EMIC waves are responsible for scattering relativistic electrons, will distinguish between drift loss cone and bounce loss cone precipitation, and will measure the longitudnal extent of precipitation. GPS will provide accurate time synchronization of conjugate payloads, allowing us to conduct a careful timing analysis of microbursts at conjugate locations. An Iridium satellite modem will allow us to receive continuous real-time data from each payload. In this paper, we present an overview of the campaign, including a description of the instrumentation and launch plan.

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