Dinâmica de Elétrons e de Prótons Não-relativísticos na Plasmasfera

Abstract

In the present work, a study of the dynamics of electrons and protons inside the plasmasphere is presented. These particles are subjected to the geomagnetic field and to plasmaspheric electric fields, given by simple static models, during magnetically quiet and disturbed periods. It is concluded that, during magnetically quiet periods, electrons tend to corotate with the Earth. On the other hand, protons show a more complex dynamical behaviour, strongly depending on energy and on local time, presenting orbits encircling the Earth, similar to those of the electrons, except for an energy interval in which closed orbits exist within determinate local time intervals. During magnetically disturbed periods, the behavior of electrons and protons remains approximately unchanged, although the energy interval for which closed proton orbits occur gets shifted.