Kinetic Modeling of Radiation Belt Electrons with GEANT4 to Study Energetic Particle Precipitation in Earth's Atmosphere | CU Experts

We present a new model designed to simulate the process of energetic; particle precipitation, a vital coupling mechanism from Earth’s; magnetosphere to its atmosphere. The atmospheric response, namely excess; ionization in the upper and middle atmosphere, together with; bremsstrahlung X-ray production, is calculated with kinetic particle; simulations using the GEANT4 Monte Carlo framework. Mono-energy and; mono-pitch angle electron beams are simulated and combined using a; Green’s function approach to represent realistic electron spectra and; pitch angle distributions. Results from this model include more accurate; ionization profiles than previous analytical models, deeper photon; penetration into the atmosphere than previous Monte Carlo model; predictions, and predictions of backscatter fractions of loss cone; electrons up to 40%. The model results are verified by comparison with; previous precipitation modeling results, and validated using balloon; X-ray measurements from the BARREL mission and backscattered electron; energy and pitch angle measurements from the ELFIN CubeSat mission. The; model results and solution techniques are developed into a Python; package for public use.

VIVO