Presentation Title
P-11 A Map Seeking Circuit Approach to Approximating Field-line Curves in the Magnetosphere
Presenter Status
Student, Engineering
Second Presenter Status
Professor of Engineering, Engineering
Third Presenter Status
Student, Physics
Preferred Session
Poster Session
Start Date
25-10-2019 2:00 PM
Presentation Abstract
Using electron beam accelerators attached to satellites in Earth orbit, it may be possible to measure arc length and curvature of field-lines in the inner magnetosphere if the accelerator is designed with the capability to vary the beam energy. In combination with additional information, these measurements would be very useful in modeling the magnetic field of the inner magnetosphere. We have developed a method to approximate field lines based on a map seeking circuit algorithm that constructs a probability distribution for paths having a fixed length between two points given a set of observational constraints. Data gathered from firing an electron beam from space provides the initial and final points in space for this algorithm to run. The time required for the beam to reach earth constrains the length of the field line.
The field-line curve can be further constrained by assuming a prior based on an existing field line model, which could be an empirical model based on average observations or a theoretical model that satisfies the equilibrium condition. This constraint will bias field lines that are "closer" to the prior so that field lines are selected that prefer a path that deviates the least from the selected field line. This path provides an approximation to the field line curve that can serve as a foundation to improve the underlying model.
P-11 A Map Seeking Circuit Approach to Approximating Field-line Curves in the Magnetosphere
Using electron beam accelerators attached to satellites in Earth orbit, it may be possible to measure arc length and curvature of field-lines in the inner magnetosphere if the accelerator is designed with the capability to vary the beam energy. In combination with additional information, these measurements would be very useful in modeling the magnetic field of the inner magnetosphere. We have developed a method to approximate field lines based on a map seeking circuit algorithm that constructs a probability distribution for paths having a fixed length between two points given a set of observational constraints. Data gathered from firing an electron beam from space provides the initial and final points in space for this algorithm to run. The time required for the beam to reach earth constrains the length of the field line.
The field-line curve can be further constrained by assuming a prior based on an existing field line model, which could be an empirical model based on average observations or a theoretical model that satisfies the equilibrium condition. This constraint will bias field lines that are "closer" to the prior so that field lines are selected that prefer a path that deviates the least from the selected field line. This path provides an approximation to the field line curve that can serve as a foundation to improve the underlying model.