March 31, 2010, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

March 31, 2010, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

The Physics of Terrestrial Radiation Belts in the RBSP era: Energetic Particle Measurement with REPT

Shri Kanekal (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder)

The Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Mission to be launched in 2012 aims at physical understanding of the charged particle energization and loss processes of the Earth’s radiation belts. Two spacecraft with identical instrumentation will visit the near equatorial plane and measure energetic particles, fields, and plasma populations to provide a complete and comprehensive characterization of the radiation belt environment. All the key ingredients from source to the resulting energized population as well as causative mechanisms such as wave-particle interactions will be measured. The Relativistic Electron and Proton Telescope, REPT, is key component of the Energtic Particle, Composition and Themal Plasma (ECT) suite on RBSP. REPT is solid state telescope that measures electrons in the 4-10 MeV and protons in the 25-70 MeV range. The relativistic electrons are measured in 12 and protons in in 9 differential channels respectively with complete pitch angle coverage. We will describe the REPT instrument and its key role in the context of RBSP and radiation belt physics. We will discuss the design considerations, instrument chracterization and current status of REPT.