Physics of Earth’s Radiation Belts

Abstract

This book adroitly covers each of the important topics of its chosen subject matter, examining each of the pieces of the radiation belt puzzle before bringing all of these together. By providing several chapters of introductory plasma physics, the book clearly defines the equations of motion governing why these fast-moving electrically charged particles behave the way they do. Because they are flying at relativistic speeds, they don’t spend much time at any one location, the forces are mere nudges on their trajectories. It takes a persistent nudging to change their flight path, and this is most effectively accomplished through their interaction with electric and magnetic waves in space. The book devotes two full chapters to waves, a necessary inclusion to fully describe their properties. That is, the book systematically and robustly covers each of the principal topics of radiation belt physics; this aspect makes it a worthwhile reference text for anyone in the field. It doesn’t stop there, however. The content of the last two chapters are an equally compelling reason to read the book, weaving those earlier sections into a comprehensive tapestry of the relative importance of those processes on the observed structure and dynamics of the radiation belts. Space physics, as a field, is moving towards a systems-level approach to geospace science, and this book makes the case that a systems-level approach is needed for Earth’s radiation belts.