ATS-6 Synchronousi Orbit Trapped Radiation Studies with an Electron-Proton Spectrometer

Abstract

The University of Minnesota Electron-Proton Spectrometer Experiment consists of two nearly identical detector assemblies. One of these assemblies was mounted in a position fixed on the satellite in the Environmental Measurements Experiments (EME) east direction and the other was rotated so that the spectrometer scanned a range of spatial directions covering 1800 from EME north to EME south through west. Each of the detector assemblies is a magnetic spectrometer containing four gold-silicon surface barrier detectors. This instrument provides a very clean separation between protons and electrons by the combination of pulse height analysis and magnetic deflection. Each detector assembly measures protons in three nominal energy ranges (30-50 keV), (50-160 keV), and (120-514 keV). Electrons also are measured in three energy intervals (30-50 keV), (150-214 keV), and (more than 500 keV). Data are transmitted from the experiment at rates as high as 8 measurements/s. Decreases in the flux of the energetic electrons and protons followed by very rapid increases are frequently observed on the nightside during periods of geomagnetic activity. Separation of temporal and spatial effects is possible using proton gradient information obtained when the detector systems are oppositely directed. Using this technique, the decreases have been interpreted as motion of the trapping region equatorward and Earthward of the satellite. The boundary motion associated with the particle recovery shows a marked local time dependence. Particle increases observed in the evening sector have been interpreted as motion from Earthward and equatorward of Applications Technology Satellite-6 (ATS-6).