Controlled precipitation of energetic Van Allen belt protons by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves

Abstract

AbstractThe high‐energy protons trapped in the inner Van Allen belt are a hazard to the man‐made space systems orbiting the region. We analyze the possibility of human control over these energetic particles by the transmission of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves from space‐based antennas. We examine the propagation of man‐made EMIC waves, their interaction with the energetic inner belt proton population, and the overall feasibility of controlled proton precipitation. The nature of the interaction between EMIC waves radiated from space‐based transmitters and energetic protons is different from the naturally occurring processes in the magnetosphere, the latter being dominated by gyroaveraged resonant interactions. In the case of man‐made EMIC waves, we show that off‐resonant interactions dominate the particles' scattering. However, our numerical simulations show that both the radiation and interaction processes are very inefficient, to the point that, with the current technology, it is not feasible to remediate the proton belt using space‐based transmitters.