Open AccessNumerical simulation of the formation of artificial radiation belt caused by high altitude nuclear detonation
Author(s) -
Xudong Gu,
Zhengyu Zhao,
Bingbing Ni,
Feng Wang
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.58.5871
Subject(s) - detonation , van allen radiation belt , physics , radiation , electron , altitude (triangle) , radiative transfer , computational physics , nuclear physics , magnetosphere , optics , plasma , geometry , chemistry , mathematics , organic chemistry , explosive material
According to the previous theory of the motion of charged particles in the Earths magnetic field we derive the spatial region to which energetic particles around the Earth can extend. Using an empirical model for radiative debris produced by the high altitude nuclear detonation HANDwe investigate the primary region where HAND-induced artificial radiation belt can form.Finallyin terms of the fission property of HAND and the characteristic features of energetic electron distributions in the natural beltsthe electron flux within the artificial radiation belt is calculated and the preliminary study of its dependences on explosion latitudealtitudeand equivalence are carried out quantitatively. The numerical results show thatunder certain circumstancesthe HAND with 0.1—1 Mt TNT explosion equivalence can be expected to produce an artificial radiation belt near the Earth with the flux 3—4 orders of magnitude higher than the natural ones. The central location of the artificial belt largely relies on the magnetic latitude where the detonation takes place while the thickness and electron flux of the artificial radiation belt are affected by the explosion altitude and equivalence.