2014年3月,范艾倫探測器上的輻射帶風暴探測器離子成分實驗(RBSPICE)在輻射帶中觀察到類似「斑馬條紋」的圖案。2014年提出的最初理論是,由於地球磁場軸的傾斜,行星的旋轉產生了一個振盪的弱電場,滲透到整個內輻射帶[19]。2016年的一項研究得出結論,斑馬條紋是電離層發電機區(英语:Ionospheric dynamo region)的電離層風在輻射帶上的印記[20]。
外輻射帶
外輻射帶主要由地球磁層捕獲的高能(0.1–10MeV)電子組成。因為它更容易受到太陽活動的影響,因此比內輻射帶更容易變化。它的形狀幾乎是環面,從3個地球半徑的高度開始,一直延伸到地球表面以上的10個地球半徑(RE)-13,000至60,000公里(8,100至37,300英里)[來源請求]。它的最大强度通常在4到5RE左右。外輻射帶的電子輻射主要由向內的徑向擴散產生[21][22]和局部加速度產生[23]。由於能量從哨聲模式的電漿波(英语:Waves in plasmas)轉移到輻射帶電子。輻射帶電子也通過與地球大氣層的碰撞而不斷被移除[23],損失及向外的徑向擴散至磁層頂。高能質子的迴旋半徑將足够大,使它們與地球大氣層接觸。在這個帶內,電子具有很高的通量,在外邊緣(靠近磁層頂),地磁場線通向地磁尾,高能電子的通量可以下降到大約100 km(62 mi)內的低行星際水準:減少1,000倍。
由美國國家航空暨太空總署高級概念研究所(英语:NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts)資助的研究得出結論,利用這些反質子進行航太器推進是可行的。研究人員認為,這種方法比歐洲核子研究中心的反質子生成具有優勢,因為就地收集顆粒消除了運輸損失和成本。木星和土星也是可能的來源,但地球的輻射帶是生產力最高的。木星的生產力低於預期,因為其大部分大氣層的宇宙射線受到磁遮罩。在2019年,CMS(Compact Muon Solenoid)宣佈已經開始建造能夠收集這些粒子的設備[可疑]。NASA將使用該設備收集這些粒子,並將它們運送到世界各地的研究所進行進一步檢查。這些所謂的「反物質容器」將來也可以用於工業目的[32]。
^Orbital periods and speeds are calculated using the relations 4π2R3 = T2GM and V2R = GM, where R is the radius of orbit in metres; T is the orbital period in seconds; V is the orbital speed in m/s; G is the gravitational constant, approximately 6989667300000000000♠6.673×10−11 Nm2/kg2; M is the mass of Earth, approximately 5.98×1024公斤(1.318×1025磅).
^Approximately 8.6 times (in radius and length) when the Moon is nearest (that is, 363,104 km/42,164 km), to 9.6 times when the Moon is farthest (that is, 405,696 km/42,164 km).
^Stern, David P.; Peredo, Mauricio. Trapped Radiation—History. The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere. NASA/GSFC. [2009-04-28]. (原始内容存档于2019-12-25).
^Gusev, A. A.; Pugacheva, G. I.; Jayanthi, U. B.; Schuch, N. Modeling of Low-altitude Quasi-trapped Proton Fluxes at the Equatorial Inner Magnetosphere. Brazilian Journal of Physics. 2003, 33 (4): 775–781. Bibcode:2003BrJPh..33..775G. doi:10.1590/S0103-97332003000400029.
^Underwood, C.; Brock, D.; Williams, P.; Kim, S.; Dilão, R.; Ribeiro Santos, P.; Brito, M.; Dyer, C.; Sims, A. Radiation Environment Measurements with the Cosmic Ray Experiments On-Board the KITSAT-1 and PoSAT-1 Micro-Satellites. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. December 1994, 41 (6): 2353–2360. Bibcode:1994ITNS...41.2353U. doi:10.1109/23.340587.
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^Pokhotelov, D.; Lefeuvre, F.; Horne, R.B.; Cornilleau-Wehrlin, N. Survey of ELF-VLF plasma waves in the outer radiation belt observed by Cluster STAFF-SA experiment. Annales Geophysicae. 2008, 26 (11): 3269–3277. S2CID 122756498. doi:10.5194/angeo-26-3269-2008.
^Modisette, Jerry L.; Lopez, Manuel D.; Snyder, Joseph W. Radiation Plan for the Apollo Lunar Mission. AIAA 7th Aerospace Sciences Meeting. New York. January 20–22, 1969. doi:10.2514/6.1969-19. AIAA Paper No. 69-19.
Adams, L.; Daly, E. J.; Harboe-Sorensen, R.; Holmes-Siedle, A. G.; Ward, A. K.; Bull, R. A. Measurement of SEU and total dose in geostationary orbit under normal and solar flare conditions. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. December 1991, 38 (6): 1686–1692. Bibcode:1991ITNS...38.1686A. OCLC 4632198117. doi:10.1109/23.124163.
Shprits, Yuri Y.; Elkington, Scott R.; Meredith, Nigel P.; Subbotin, Dmitriy A. Review of modeling of losses and sources of relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics. November 2008, 70 (14). Part I: Radial transport, pp. 1679–1693, doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2008.06.008; Part II: Local acceleration and loss, pp. 1694–1713, doi:10.1016/j.jastp.2008.06.014.