Estimation of electron fluxes in the Earth's geostationary orbit with Tikhonov regularization during a magnetically quiet period

• Published in: Current applied physics 2021, 31(0), , pp.246-253
• Main Authors: Shin, Y., Na, G.W., Seon, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Charged particle detector; Electron fluxes; Geostationary orbit; Inverse theory; Tikhonov regularization; 물리학
• ISSN: 1567-1739; 1878-1675
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cap.2021.09.001

Electron energy fluxes in the Earth's outer radiation belt are estimated using an inverse theory of the Tikhonov regularization based upon observations in geostationary orbits. Particle Detector (PD) experiment aboard a geostationary satellite GEO-KOMPSAT-2A (GK2A) at a geographic longitude of 128.2°E provided observations of electrons within a 150–2,400 keV energy range with an unprecedented energy resolution of ΔE/E in the range of 5–25%. Instrument response functions, calculated with Monte-Carlo simulations, are deconvoluted with electron observations. Using regularization parameters determined from Generalized Cross Validation (GCV), the Tikhonov method was applied to observations made during a geomagnetically quiet period. This Tikhonov regularization method, now possible for observations in the Earth's radiation belt for the first time, allows direct inference of electron fluxes without resorting to predetermined functional forms. Comparisons of our results with those from conventional methods indicate differences among the results as large as ∼200%. •Inverse theory of the Tikhonov regularization is applied to observations in the Earth's outer radiation belts.•Numerical modeling of instrument response function accounts for penetration and scattering of energetic electrons.•Electron observations made with unprecedented energy resolution are deconvoluted with the response function.