Dynamics of the radiation belt formed by solar protons during magnetic storms

Abstract

Experimental proofs of the existence of the formation and destruction mechanisms of solar proton belts in the inner magnetosphere at a rapid change in the penetration boundary of solar protons are presented. An analysis of the measurements of solar protons and alpha-particles on board the Coronas-F low-altitude polar satellite during the magnetic storms in October–November 2003 is performed. During this period, formation and destruction of the belts of solar cosmic rays was observed several times. The compression of the magnetosphere during a storm makes possible the direct penetration of solar protons deep into the inner magnetosphere. The proton trajectories outside the penetration boundary are open, and the preliminary captured particles can easily leave the magnetosphere. During the recovery of the magnetospheric configuration, when the penetration boundary goes away from the Earth, the solar protons and alpha-particles with relatively low velocity of the magnetic drift remain stably captured, whereas the particles of higher energies follow the motion of the penetration boundary. That is why the energy range of the captured protons is limited from above in contrast to the effect of injection during ineffective SC in the low-energy region.