V. G. Kirillov-Ugryumov

New high energy electron component of Earth radiation belt

The charge ratio, spatial, pitch-angle and energy distributions of the high energy (E/sub e/>10 MeV) electron-positron component of trapped particles in the Earths radiation belt are presented. The probable mechanisms of particle generation and trapping are considered.

Gamma-radiation background on board Russian orbital stations

Gamma-ray background measurements on board the Russian orbital stations Salyut-6, Salyut-7, Mir, Soyuz and Progress have been carried out since 1979. The dependencies of background intensity on mission mass, telescope orientation, and cut-off rigidity are presented for the energy intervals 0.1-8 MeV and 30-600 MeV. The background from man-made sources on board these spacecraft was investigated.

High energy electrons in the earth's radiation belts

Special experiments performed aboard the space stations “Salyut-6”-“Soyuz”“Progress,” “Salyut-7”-“Soyuz T-13”-“Kosmos-1669,” and the artificial earth satellite “IK Bolgariya-1300” discovered, significant electron and positron fluxes with energies of more than decades of MeV in the earths radiation belts. Spatial and angular characteristics of these fluxes have been studied. Study of the charge ratio of the electron-positron component has shown that it is electron-based. This indicates that in outer space near the earth some efficient mechanism capable of accelerating electrons to energies of more than decades of MeV exists.

ADDITIONAL ELECTRON FLUX DETECTION AFTER MAGNETIC PERTURBATIONS.

An additional electron flux at an energy above 100 MeV was observed in the experiments carried out with high-altitude balloons flown at geomagnetic latitudes 46° and 49°, in the upper layers of the atmosphere, on the days following magnetic perturbations.Its intensity, equal to 6 × 10−2 cm−2s−1 sr−1, decreased over 20–30 hours. The effect observed confirms the presence of high-energy electrons in the regions of the trapped radiation.