Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Monitoring Storm Time Relativistic Electron Enhancement in Low Earth Orbit On A Nanosatellite Platform
Monitoring Storm Time Relativistic Electron Enhancement in Low Earth Orbit On A Nanosatellite Platform
4,10,x19267
MONITORING STROM TIME RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON ENHANCEMENT IN LOW EARTH ORBIT ON A
NANOSATELLITE PLATFORM
Author: Mr. Pramit Dash
Manipal Institute of Technology, India, pramitpdash@gmail.com
Mr. Adheesh Boratkar
Manipal Institute of Technology, India, adheesh.boratkar@learner.manipal.edu
Ms. Pallavi Reddy
Manipal Institute of Technology, India, reddy.pallavi1993@gmail.com
Ms. Ishita Bisht
Manipal Institute of Technology, India, bisht.ista@gmail.com
Mr. Soumitro Datta
Manipal Institute of Technology, India, soumitrodatta@gmail.com
Mr. Rodney Gracian DSouza
Manipal Institute of Technology, India, rodneygracian774@gmail.com
Monitoring Storm-time Relativistic Electron Enhancement in low earth orbit gains importance as this
phenomenon poses a serious threat to satellites in low earth orbit during the main and recovery phase of
solar storms. The low orbit satellites, being less prone to cosmic charged radiation, generally have less
radiation shielding compared to those in higher orbit. But due to relativistic electron enhancement, even
low earth orbit satellites especially nano-satellites would get affected. This phenomenon is caused due
to pitch angle scattering or radial diffusion of high energy electrons into low altitudes because of wave
particle interaction during a solar storm. A significant increase in total electron content will be observed
at low altitudes. The payload device selected for the task is the conjunction of a scintillator with a electron
pass band filter, a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) and a multichannel analyzer. The electron pass filter
will allow only high energy electrons into the scintillator system. The scintillator output is connected to
a photo-multiplier tube where signal amplification takes place. This output signal obtained is processed
by a multichannel analyzer which consists of a wave shaper and a digital counter. The output will be an
amplified electrical signal. Using Scintillography techniques, the intensity and the energy of the incident
electrons will be found. Based on this data, relativistic electron enhancement during the solar storm will
be monitored and this will give an idea of the dynamic nature of electron flux density with solar activity.
The nano-satellite will also be equipped with a MEMS based Hall-effect sensor to monitor changes in
geomagnetic field due to the solar storm and to observe correlations between the electron enhancement
and the geomagnetic storm. Thus, relativistic electron enhancements will be monitored and studied by
the data obtained from the device and radiation modeling will be done for the same. Based on this,
necessary shielding could be undertaken in future to safeguard nano-satellites against this phenomenon
as its impact on nano-satellites is not yet exactly known.
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
INTRODUCTION
The LEO extends till approximately 2000 km above
the Earths surface, and has a highly dynamic
environment, which can have a significant effect on
the performance of satellites. It is usually composed
of high energy electrons, high speed heavy ions, UV
radiation, electromagnetic radiation, micrometeoroids
and thermal cycles. It also partially encapsulates the
inner Van Allen belt, which is a belt of highly
energetic particles held by the Earths magnetic field.
The inner Van Allen belt is basically composite of a
high concentration of electrons and protons that are
trapped by strong magnetic fields. The energy of the
electrons in the inner belt typically lies in the range
of a few 100 keV. The proton and electron fluxes in
LEOs are largely dependent on the solar wind
intensity. As a result, there would be a lot of variation
in the particle levels. The interaction of these high
energy particles with the spacecrafts surface leads to
the phenomenon of spacecraft charging, spacecraft
glow and heavy ion upsets.
A high electron flux causes excessive charging of
microelectronic devices and circuits within the
spacecraft, which in turn damages it and limits its
performance. Current absorbed from the plasma and
emission of photoelectrons when the spacecraft is
exposed to UV radiation causes external charging.
Adding to this, the light emitted by the spacecraft,
referred to as the spacecraft glow, due to the
atmospheric O & NO, affects the optical sensor
systems. Single event upsets, which are dependent on
solar cycles, are caused by collisions of high speed
heavy ions, which cause fluctuations in data and
sometimes permanent burning of circuitry. Thermal
cycling leads to fatigue cracking and outgassing,
which ruins the properties of the materials. [1]
In general, the space environment in LEO has a very
adverse effect on the spacecraft. Through our payload
device we would attempt to gain a better
understanding of the composition of the satellites
surrounding dynamic environment. The data thus
obtained could be further used to resolve the above
stated issues.
Researches pertaining to the study of relationship
between solar storm and relativistic electron flux,
have usually arrived at the conclusion that the trend is
rather dynamic, i.e., the electron flux tends to
sometimes increase and sometimes decrease with an
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
APPLICATION
Studies have concluded that the effect of solar
activity on radiation belt fluxes is a delicate and
complicated balance between effects of particle
acceleration and loss. Contrary to intuition,
relativistic electron flux does not always increase
during geomagnetic storms. These conclusions were
found to be independent of the strength of the storms
as
well
as
the
L-shells(Fig1)
[2]
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
the pitch angle is >90 then the electrons fall into the
loss cone.
Fig 4
Scintillator: A scintillator, which exhibits the
property of fluorescence when excited by ionizing
radiation, has to be very carefully selected. This is
because, if an inefficient scintillator is used, then the
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
(4)
Dynodes:
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
2.
= A x E
[5]
where A is constant, E is an interstage voltage, and
is a coefficient determined by the dynode material
and geometric structure. It usually has a value of 0.7
to 0.8. When a voltage V is applied between the
cathode and the anode of a photomultiplier tube
having n dynode stages, current amplification, ,
becomes
= {A x (V/n+1)}n = K x Vn
[6]
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
(7)
where,
q = electronic charge (1.60 10-19 coulomb.)
I = anode dark current in amperes
= current amplification
f = bandwidth of the system in hertz (usually 1
hertz)
Fig14 Electron Flux at various orbits (98)
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
Where,
Altitude of satellite A (650 km)
Radius of earth Re (6400 km)
Distance covered between two readings - d
Distance covered in one orbit - D
The speed of the satellite as - V
Time interval between two readings - t
The total time for taken to complete one orbit - T
Number of readings in an orbit - n
Total number of readings - N.
On the world map, we would be able to plot readings
for 7 orbits. This would give us two scatter plots for
every 14 orbit cycle (i.e. 1 day).
Adding a third axis Axis3 for time (unit 1day) and
superimposing such plots will facilitate the study of
variations in the electron fluxes over a long period of
time. If due to power constrains, the payload is shut
down in the eclipse region, only one such plot per
day would be obtainable to represent all the readings
taken in a day.
Another part of the analysis, involves observing a
trend between the integral electron flux and L shells.
From SPENVIS, the following graph was obtained,
that shows the L shell values that will be cut by the
satellites path. Another graph, that relates the
satellites orbit and the electron flux, can be used
with this to derive a relationship between L shells and
electron flux.
REFERENCES
CONCLUSION
Through this experiment, we get a better insight into
the space environment in the LEO, where many
satellites orbit. Hence, an estimate on the radiation
level intensity can be got and appropriate shielding
mechanisms can be incorporated to protect the
satellites from damage. In specific, a trend can be
observed between the electron flux values and the
solar activity, which until now has been under
speculation. In addition, existing models can be
refined by the data that will be generated at the end of
this study.
More importantly, it also elaborates the usage of a
nano satellite to help achieve the given objective. The
IAC-13,E2, 3-V.4,10,x19267