The Radiation Belts, Natural and Artificial

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Abstract
Data on the time- and space-dependence of trapped particles in three categories have been obtained by detectors on the Explorer XV satellite. Some of the more interesting observations are as follows: There is an unexpected secondary peak in the distribution of high-energy protons. The fluxes of high-energy protons slowly increased with time but apparently were not affected by geomagnetic events which caused perturbation of the electron fluxes on the same lines of force. About 1 or 2% of the electrons generated by the nuclear detonation of 9 July 1962 were found to be present in the geomagnetic field 125 days later. The electron fluxes in the region between L=1.25 and 1.65 earth radii varied by less than 35% over the period from day 110 to day 206 after the detonation of 9 July. The spatial distributions of high-and low-energy electrons are quite different. Electrons in the region above L=1.7 earth radii are strongly perturbed by magnetic disturbances. A new outer zone of both high-and low-energy electrons was formed by the magnetic storm which began 18 December 1962. These and other findings obtained by the Explorer XV detectors will be of substantial aid in uncovering the mechanisms which control the behavior of geo-magnetically trapped particles.

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