Van Allen radiation belt
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The Van Allen radiation belt is comprised of two torus-shaped layers of energetic charged particles (plasma) around the planet Earth, held in place by its magnetic field. The belt extends from an altitude of about 1,000 to 60,000 kilometres above the surface, in which region radiation levels vary. It is thought that most of the particles that form the belts come from solar wind, and other particles by cosmic rays. It is named after its discoverer, James Van Allen, and is located in the inner region of the Earth's magnetosphere. It is split into two distinct belts, with energetic electrons forming the outer belt and a combination of protons and electrons forming the inner belt. In addition, the radiation belts contain lesser amounts of other nuclei, such as alpha particles. The belts pose a hazard to satellites, which must protect their sensitive components with adequate shielding if their orbit spends significant time in the radiation belts.
- Related: L-shell, Space weather
| An explanation of the belts An explanation of the belts www.phy6.org/Education/Iradbelt.html - Web |
| Trapped particle radiation models Trapped particle radiation models www.spenvis.oma.be/spenvis/help/background/traprad/traprad.html - Web |
| SPENVIS - Space Environment, Effects, and Educatio... SPENVIS - Space Environment, Effects, and Education System www.spenvis.oma.be - Web |
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| NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probe Mission NASA Radiation Belt Storm Probe Mission rbsp.jhuapl.edu - Web |
