Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 1992
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992adspr..12...39h&link_type=abstract
(Active experiments in space; Proceedings of the Topical Meeting of the Interdisciplinary Scientific Commission D /Meeting D3/ o
Physics
Earth Magnetosphere, Gamma Ray Spectrometers, Nuclear Propulsion, Positrons, Soviet Satellites, Circular Orbits, Geomagnetism, Particle Diffusion, Solar Maximum Mission
Scientific paper
Two Soviet satellites carrying nuclear reactors operated in circular 790 km orbits (65 deg inclination) in 1987 and 1988. Positrons generated in the satellites' surfaces by the intense reactor gamma radiation escaped and were trapped for periods of minutes to hours in the geomagnetic field. These positrons have been observed on many occasions by gamma ray sensors on the SMM satellite (in 500 km orbit) which identify the positrons by the 511 keV gamma rays created when they annihilate in the satellite surface. The SMM detector provides a time resolution of 64 millisec It has recorded positron rise-times of less than 0.5 sec (corresponding to a satellite travel distance of about 1 positron gyroradius) on many occasions as it encounters the low-L edge of positrons injected by the Soviet satellites as far as half-way around the earth. The potential of these sharply defined positron shells are studied as magnetospheric tracers and as a means for examining particle diffusion and loss processes.
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