Two methods to analyse radial diffusion ensembles: the peril of space- and time- dependent diffusion

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Autori principali: Bentley, Sarah N., Stout, J., Thompson, Rhys, Ratliff, Daniel J., Watt, Clare E. J.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2024
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author Bentley, Sarah N.
Stout, J.
Thompson, Rhys
Ratliff, Daniel J.
Watt, Clare E. J.
author_facet Bentley, Sarah N.
Stout, J.
Thompson, Rhys
Ratliff, Daniel J.
Watt, Clare E. J.
contents Particle dynamics in Earth's outer radiation belt can be modelled using a diffusion framework, where large-scale electron movements are captured by a diffusion equation across a single adiabatic invariant, $L^{*}$ $``(L)"$. While ensemble models are promoted to represent physical uncertainty, as yet there is no validated method to analyse radiation belt ensembles. Comparisons are complicated by the domain dependent diffusion, since diffusion coefficient $D_{LL}$ is dependent on $L$. We derive two tools to analyse ensemble members: time to monotonicity $t_m$ and mass/energy moment quantities $\mathcal{N}, \mathcal{E}$. We find that the Jacobian ($1/L^2$) is necessary for radiation belt error metrics. Components of $\partial\mathcal{E}/\partial t$ are explicitly calculated to compare the effects of outer and inner boundary conditions, and loss, on the ongoing diffusion. Using $t_m$, $\mathcal{N}$ and $\mathcal{E}$, we find that: (a) different physically motivated choices of outer boundary condition and location result in different final states and different rates of evolution; (b) the gradients of the particle distribution affect evolution more significantly than $D_{LL}$; (c) the enhancement location, and the amount of initial background particles, are both significant factors determining system evolution; (d) loss from pitch-angle scattering is generally dominant; it mitigates but does not remove the influence of both initial conditions and outer boundary settings, which are due to the $L$-dependence of $D_{LL}$. We anticipate this study will promote renewed focus on the distribution gradients, on the location and nature of the outer boundary in radiation belt modelling, and provide a foundation for systematic ensemble modelling.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2407_04669
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Two methods to analyse radial diffusion ensembles: the peril of space- and time- dependent diffusion
Bentley, Sarah N.
Stout, J.
Thompson, Rhys
Ratliff, Daniel J.
Watt, Clare E. J.
Plasma Physics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Mathematical Physics
Geophysics
Space Physics
Particle dynamics in Earth's outer radiation belt can be modelled using a diffusion framework, where large-scale electron movements are captured by a diffusion equation across a single adiabatic invariant, $L^{*}$ $``(L)"$. While ensemble models are promoted to represent physical uncertainty, as yet there is no validated method to analyse radiation belt ensembles. Comparisons are complicated by the domain dependent diffusion, since diffusion coefficient $D_{LL}$ is dependent on $L$. We derive two tools to analyse ensemble members: time to monotonicity $t_m$ and mass/energy moment quantities $\mathcal{N}, \mathcal{E}$. We find that the Jacobian ($1/L^2$) is necessary for radiation belt error metrics. Components of $\partial\mathcal{E}/\partial t$ are explicitly calculated to compare the effects of outer and inner boundary conditions, and loss, on the ongoing diffusion. Using $t_m$, $\mathcal{N}$ and $\mathcal{E}$, we find that: (a) different physically motivated choices of outer boundary condition and location result in different final states and different rates of evolution; (b) the gradients of the particle distribution affect evolution more significantly than $D_{LL}$; (c) the enhancement location, and the amount of initial background particles, are both significant factors determining system evolution; (d) loss from pitch-angle scattering is generally dominant; it mitigates but does not remove the influence of both initial conditions and outer boundary settings, which are due to the $L$-dependence of $D_{LL}$. We anticipate this study will promote renewed focus on the distribution gradients, on the location and nature of the outer boundary in radiation belt modelling, and provide a foundation for systematic ensemble modelling.
title Two methods to analyse radial diffusion ensembles: the peril of space- and time- dependent diffusion
topic Plasma Physics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Mathematical Physics
Geophysics
Space Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.04669