 |
Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Recent advances in accelerator technologies as well as space diagnostic instruments open possibilities for new electron beam experiments in space. Two examples of such experiments include the CONNection EXplorer (CONNEX) experiment and the Beam Plasma Interaction Experiment (BeamPIE). The CONNEX experiment aims to study magnetic connectivity between regions in the magnetosphere and ionosphere. The BeamPIE project will fly an advanced electron beam on an ionospheric rocket in order to generate whistler and X-mode plasma waves. The waves can be very efficient in scattering energetic electrons present in natural environment and thus the technology has a potential to be used to decrease fluxes of harmful energetic particles in the radiation belts. Our modeling and theoretical work supports the design of both experiments and studies feasibility of using electron beams to remediate artificial and natural radiation belts. There are many scientific aspects of the beam physics for space applications and in the presentation I will focus on the wave-related side of the problem. I will discuss generation of the coherent Cherenkov radiation by a pulsed electron beam and will show results of our simulations of the radiation. I will then discuss importance of the beam dynamics, particularly its effect on the spatial extent of the wave field. I will end with a brief discussion of other aspects of the problem that a crucial to accurately quantify scattering of energetic particles by artificially generated plasma waves.
Host: David Metiver