Understanding the Role of Wave-Particle Interactions in Earth’s Radiation Belt Dynamics Using Observations, Simulations and Modelling
A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Upper Atmosphere".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editor
Interests: understand the basic plasma physical processes within the Earth’s magnetosphere using spacecraft data analysis and numerical simulations; with a special emphasis on studying the role of whistler mode waves on magnetospheric electron dynamics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on wave–particle interactions within Earth’s radiation belts using observations, simulations, and modelling.
Earth’s radiation belts are two doughnut-shaped regions surrounding the planet, filled with electrons and ions trapped by the geomagnetic field. The dynamics of this region are primarily driven by interactions between its charged constituents and plasma waves of diverse temporal and spatial scales (from large MHD scales to small kinetic scales). Understanding radiation belt dynamics is of the utmost importance to the space science community due to their harmful impact on space and ground infrastructure, such as telecommunications, navigation, and satellite broadcasting, which modern society is increasingly reliant on. With the advent of several spacecraft missions dedicated to monitoring the near-Earth space plasma environment, we are presently in an advantageous position to study radiation belt dynamics with a higher level of fidelity than before.
In this context, this Special Issue invites papers focusing on, but not limited to, wave–particle interactions within the Earth’s radiation belts, such as multi-scale modulation of electromagnetic waves; simultaneous excitation of multiple wave modes and their impact on the radiation belt particle dynamics; impact of background plasma conditions and solar wind drivers on wave–particle interactions; and the role of nonlinear interactions with very large amplitude electromagnetic waves in shaping the radiation belt dynamics, using observations from single or multiple spacecraft complemented by ground-based measurements, numerical simulations and modelling approaches.
This Special Issue aims to publish a set of insightful papers spanning both original research and review articles.
Dr. Suman Chakraborty
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- space plasma physics
- radiation belt dynamics
- wave-particle interaction
- multi-spacecraft observations
- numerical simulations
- modelling
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