Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt
Abstract Uranus is one of the least explored planets in our solar system, it exhibits a unique magnetic field structure which was observed by NASA's Voyager 2 mission nearly 50 years ago. Notably, Uranus displays extreme magnetic field asymmetry, a feature exclusive to the icy giants. We use th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-06-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108961 |
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| author | M. Acevski A. Masters S. Zomerdijk‐Russell |
| author_facet | M. Acevski A. Masters S. Zomerdijk‐Russell |
| author_sort | M. Acevski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Uranus is one of the least explored planets in our solar system, it exhibits a unique magnetic field structure which was observed by NASA's Voyager 2 mission nearly 50 years ago. Notably, Uranus displays extreme magnetic field asymmetry, a feature exclusive to the icy giants. We use the Boris algorithm to investigate how high energy protons behave within this unusual magnetic field, which is motivated by Voyager 2's observation of lower‐than‐expected high energy proton radiation belt intensities at Uranus. When considering full drift motions of high energy protons around Uranus, the azimuthal drift velocity can vary by as much as 15% around the planet. This results in areas around Uranus where particles will be more depleted (faster drift) and other regions where there is a surplus of particles (slower drift). This could provide a partial explanation for the “weak” proton radiation belts observed by Voyager 2. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-814e23cfb9694207b26a4f04cd5bc459 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-814e23cfb9694207b26a4f04cd5bc4592025-08-20T02:31:38ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-06-015112n/an/a10.1029/2024GL108961Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation BeltM. Acevski0A. Masters1S. Zomerdijk‐Russell2Blackett Laboratory Imperial College London London UKBlackett Laboratory Imperial College London London UKBlackett Laboratory Imperial College London London UKAbstract Uranus is one of the least explored planets in our solar system, it exhibits a unique magnetic field structure which was observed by NASA's Voyager 2 mission nearly 50 years ago. Notably, Uranus displays extreme magnetic field asymmetry, a feature exclusive to the icy giants. We use the Boris algorithm to investigate how high energy protons behave within this unusual magnetic field, which is motivated by Voyager 2's observation of lower‐than‐expected high energy proton radiation belt intensities at Uranus. When considering full drift motions of high energy protons around Uranus, the azimuthal drift velocity can vary by as much as 15% around the planet. This results in areas around Uranus where particles will be more depleted (faster drift) and other regions where there is a surplus of particles (slower drift). This could provide a partial explanation for the “weak” proton radiation belts observed by Voyager 2.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108961Uranusradiation beltsplanetary magnetic fielddrift velocity |
| spellingShingle | M. Acevski A. Masters S. Zomerdijk‐Russell Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt Geophysical Research Letters Uranus radiation belts planetary magnetic field drift velocity |
| title | Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt |
| title_full | Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt |
| title_fullStr | Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt |
| title_short | Asymmetry in Uranus' High Energy Proton Radiation Belt |
| title_sort | asymmetry in uranus high energy proton radiation belt |
| topic | Uranus radiation belts planetary magnetic field drift velocity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108961 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT macevski asymmetryinuranushighenergyprotonradiationbelt AT amasters asymmetryinuranushighenergyprotonradiationbelt AT szomerdijkrussell asymmetryinuranushighenergyprotonradiationbelt |