• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.115.2-115.2
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• 2012

In this study we have used the data of various instruments onboard the THEMIS spacecraft to study the characteristics of the outer radiation belt during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24. The most astonishing result is that we discovered four long-term (a month or so) periods during which the belt has nearly disappeared. The first disappearance started late 2008, followed by reappearance in ~a month, and three more similar events repeated until early 2010 when the belt has reappeared. This is well revealed at 719 keV electrons, which is the currently available uppermost energy channel from the THEMIS SST observation, but also seen at even lower energies. Overall consistent features were confirmed using the NOAA-POES observations. The vanished belt periods are associated with extremely weak solar wind conditions, low geomagnetic disturbances (in terms of Kp and AE/AL), greatly suppressed wave (ULF and chorus) activities, greatly reduced storm and substorm activities (little source particle supply), and expanded plasmapause locations. The direct observations of such events shed light on the fundamental question of the origin of the radiation belt, which is the main focus of our presentation.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.95.2-95.2
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• 2013

The Van Allen Probes were designed to study the Earth's radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The identical two spacecrafts going nearly eccentric orbits lap each other several times over the course of the mission and each probe carries five instrument suites to address the science objectives on the radiation belt. Since Van Allen Probes launched on August 30, 2012, the probes detecte several storm events up to now. To understand the particle acceleration and loss mechanism in the radiation belt, we first focus on the energetic electrons' dynamics detected by ECT (Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite). ECT measures near-Earth space's radiation particles covering the full electron and ion spectra from ~ eV to 10's of MeV with sufficient energy resolution. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of the recent several storm events using electron data from ECT(MagEIS and REPT).

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2008

This paper analyzes on the radiation effect of silicon solar cells in a low Earth orbit satellite by using high energy electron beams. Generally, the satellite circling round in a low orbit go through Van Allen belt, in which electronic components are easily damaged and shortened by charged particles moving in a cycle between the South Pole and the North Pole. For example, Single Event Upset (SEU) by radiation could cause electronic devices on satellite to malfunction. From the ground experiment in which we used the high energy electron beam facility at Knrea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), we tried to explain sun sensor degradations on orbit could he caused by high energy electrons. While we focused on the solar cells used for light detectors, We convince our research also contributes to understand the radiation effect of solar cells generating electric powers on satellites.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.94.1-94.1
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• 2013

Whistler mode chorus waves, which are observed outside the plasmasphere of the Earth's magnetosphere, play a major role in accelerating and scattering energetic electrons in the radiation belts. In this study we developed a predicting scheme of the global distribution of chorus by using the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellite data. First, we determined global spatial distributions of chorus activity, and identified fit functions that best represent chorus intensities in specific L-MLT zones. Second, we determined the specific dependence of average chorus intensity on preceding solar wind conditions (e.g., solar wind speed, IMF Bz, energy coupling degree) as well as preceding geomagnetic states (as represented by AE, for example). Finally, we combined these two results to develop the predicting functions for the global distribution and intensity of chorus. Implementing these results in the radiation belt models should improve the local acceleration effect by chorus waves.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 2014

Next Generation Small Satellite-1 (NEXTSat-1) is scheduled to launch in 2017 and Instruments for the Study of Space Storm (ISSS) is planned to be onboard the NEXTSat-1. High Energy Particle Detector (HEPD) is one of the equipment comprising ISSS and the main objective of HEPD is to measure the high energy particles streaming into the Earth radiation belt during the event of a space storm, especially, electrons and protons, to obtain the flux information of those particles. For the design of HEPD, the Geometrical Factor was calculated to be 0.05 to be consistent with the targets of measurement and the structure of telescope with field of view of $33.4^{\circ}$ was designed using this factor. In order to decide the thickness of the detector sensor and the classification of the detection channels, a simulation was performed using GEANT4. Based on the simulation results, two silicon detectors with 1 mm thickness were selected and the aluminum foil of 0.05 mm is placed right in front of the silicon detectors to shield low energy particles. The detection channels are divided into an electron channel and two proton channels based on the measured LET of the particle. If the measured LET is less than 0.8 MeV, the particle belongs to the electron channel, otherwise it belongs to proton channels. HEPD is installed in the direction of $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$ against the along-track of a satellite to enable the efficient measurement of high energy particles. HEPD detects electrons with the energy of 0.1 MeV to several MeV and protons with the energy of more than a few MeV. Thus, the study on the dynamic mechanism of these particles in the Earth radiation belt will be performed.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2018

The present paper describes the design of a Solid State Telescope (SST) on board the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute satellite-1 (KASISat-1) consisting of four [TBD] nanosatellites. The SST will measure these radiation belt electrons from a low-Earth polar orbit satellite to study mechanisms related to the spatial resolution of electron precipitation, such as electron microbursts, and those related to the measurement of energy dispersion with a high temporal resolution in the sub-auroral regions. We performed a simulation to determine the sensor design of the SST using GEometry ANd Tracking 4 (GEANT4) simulations and the Bethe formula. The simulation was performed in the range of 100 ~ 400 keV considering that the electron, which is to be detected in the space environment. The SST is based on a silicon barrier detector and consists of two telescopes mounted on a satellite to observe the electrons moving along the geomagnetic field (pitch angle $0^{\circ}$) and the quasi-trapped electrons (pitch angle $90^{\circ}$) during observations. We determined the telescope design of the SST in view of previous measurements and the geometrical factor in the cylindrical geometry of Sullivan (1971). With a high spectral resolution of 16 channels over the 100 keV ~ 400 keV energy range, together with the pitch angle information, the designed SST will answer questions regarding the occurrence of microbursts and the interaction with energetic particles. The KASISat-1 is expected to be launched in the latter half of 2020.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.33.3-34
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• 2008

As an activity of building Korean Space Weather Prediction Center (KSWPC), we has studied of radiation effect on the spacecraft components. High energy charged particles trapped by geomagnetic field in the region named Van Allen Belt can move to low altitude along magnetic field and threaten even low altitude spacecraft. Space Radiation can cause equipment failures and on occasions can even destroy operations of satellites in orbit. Sun sensors aboard Science and Technology Satellite (STSAT-1) was designed to detect sun light with silicon solar cells which performance was degraded during satellite operation. In this study, we try to identify which particle contribute to the solar cell degradation with ground based radiation facilities. We measured the short circuit current after bombarding electrons and protons on the solar cells same as STSAT-1 sun sensors. Also we estimated particle flux on the STSAT-1 orbit with analyzing NOAA POES particle data. Our result clearly shows STSAT-1 solar cell degradation was caused by energetic protons which energy is about 700 keV to 1.5 MeV. Our result can be applied to estimate solar cell conditions of other satellites.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2008

High energy charged particles are trapped by geomagnetic field in the region named Van Allen Belt. These particles can move to low altitude along magnetic field and threaten even low altitude spacecraft. Space Radiation can cause equipment failures and on occasions can even destroy operations of satellites in orbit. Sun sensors aboard Science and Technology Satellite (STSAT-l) was designed to detect sun light with silicon solar cells which performance was degraded during satellite operation. In this study, we try to identify which particle contribute to the solar cell degradation with ground based radiation facilities. We measured the short circuit current after bombarding electrons and protons on the solar cells same as STSAT-1 sun sensors. Also we estimated particle flux on the STSAT-l orbit with analyzing NOAA POES particle data. Our result clearly shows STSAT-l solar cell degradation was caused by energetic protons which energy is about 700keV to 1.5MeV. Our result can be applied to estimate solar cell conditions of other satellites.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2022

It is suggested that magnetosonic waves (also known as equatorial noise) can scatter radiation belt electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere. Therefore, it is important to understand the global distribution of these waves between the proton cyclotron frequency and the lower hybrid resonance frequency. In this study, we developed an empirical model for estimating the global distribution of magnetosonic wave amplitudes and wave normal angles. The model is based on the entire mission period (approximately 2012-2019) of observations of Van Allen Probes A and B as a function of the distance from the Earth (denoted by L^*), magnetic local time (MLT), magnetic latitude (λ), and geomagnetic activity (denoted by the Kp index). In previous studies the wave distribution inside and outside the plasmasphere were separately investigated and modeled. Our model, on the other hand, identifies the wave distribution along with the ambient plasma environment-defined by the ratio of the plasma frequency (f_pe) to the electron cyclotron frequency (f_ce)-without separately determining the wave distribution according to the plasmapause location. The model results show that, as Kp increases, the dayside wave amplitude in the equatorial region intensifies. It thereby propagates the intense region towards the wider MLT and inward to L^* < 4. In contrast, the f_pe/f_ce ratio decreases with increasing Kp for all regions. Nevertheless, the decreasing aspect differs between regions above and below L^* = 4. This finding implies that the particle energy and pitch angle that magnetosonic waves can effectively scatter vary depending on the locations and geomagnetic activity. Our model agrees with the statistically observed wave distribution and ambient plasma environment with a coefficient of determination of > 0.9. The model is valid in all MLTs, 2 ≤ L^* < 6, |λ| < 20°, and Kp ≤ 6.