Abstract

As businesses become more reliant on uninterrupted communication, the danger posed by satellite anomalies becomes increasingly serious as, for example the AT&T satellite failure on Jan 11, 1997, which was thought to be due to deep dielectric dishcharges caused by MeV electrons. It is imperative that the origin and prediction of these hi-MeV electron fluxes be understood.
But the source of MeV electrons in the outer radiation belts has remained a mystery since their discovery by VanAllen 40 years ago. Without a physical model we are left with poor statistical correlations and no explanation at all for the lack of temporal causality between magnetic storms and MeV enhancements, or the baffling delay between Dst and peak MeV electron flux.
The unique orbit and instrumentation of POLAR may have finally revealed the mysterious origin of these MeV electrons...

The unique orbit and instrumentation of POLAR may have finally revealed the mysterious origin of these MeV electrons...