Note: Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Chapter 1 - Introduction and historical background -- 1.1 - Historical overview -- 1.2 - Relation to solar wind drivers -- 1.3 - Space weather effects -- 1.4 - Book content -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 2 - Observations and measurement techniques -- 2.1 - Early ring-current measurements -- 2.1.1 - Ring current energy density -- 2.1.2 - Ring current ion spectra -- 2.2 - Ring current composition and the source of the ring current -- 2.2.1 - Low-energy measurements -- 2.2.2 - The "bulk" of the ring current -- 2.2.2.1 - Storm-time energy density -- 2.2.2.2 - The role of the solar wind source -- 2.2.2.3 - Signatures of transport/loss in Ion spectra -- 2.2.2.4 - Statistical models, including quiet time observations -- 2.3 - Imaging the ring current -- 2.4 - Multispacecraft measurements and recent results -- 2.4.1 - The Cluster mission -- 2.4.2 - Van Allen Probes and Arase -- 2.4.2.1 - Ring current development -- 2.4.2.2 - Low L-shell heavy ion features -- 2.4.2.3 - Statistical studies of the ring current -- 2.5 - Summary -- References -- Chapter 3 - Theoretical description -- 3.1 - Motivation -- 3.2 - Single particle motion in electromagnetic fields -- 3.2.1 - Maxwell's equations -- 3.2.2 - The Lorentz force -- 3.2.3 - Particle motion in a uniform magnetic field -- 3.2.4 - Particle motion in nonuniform magnetic field -- 3.2.5 - Magnetic mirroring -- 3.2.6 - Gradient-curvature drift -- 3.3 - Adiabatic invariants -- 3.4 - Statistical description: elements of kinetic theory -- 3.4.1 - The Boltzmann equation -- 3.4.2 - Macroscopic variables as moments of the distribution function -- 3.5 - Motion in a nonuniform magnetic field -- 3.6 - Bounce averaged drifts -- 3.6.1 - Bounce-averaged particle drifts -- 3.6.2 - Bounce-averaged drifts in arbitrary magnetic fields. , 3.6.3 - Magnetospheric electric field -- 3.7 - Losses -- 3.7.1 - Charge exchange -- 3.7.2 - The role of charge exchange in the loss of ring current ions -- 3.7.3 - Coulomb collisions -- 3.7.4 - Scattering via wave particle interactions -- 3.7.4.1 - Minimum resonant energy -- 3.7.5 - Wave properties in hot plasma -- 3.7.5.1 - Quasi-linear diffusion coefficients -- 3.7.6 - Convective loss -- 3.8 - Conclusions -- Appendix A. Equatorial gyro-frequency -- Appendix B. Equatorial gyro-radius -- Appendix C. Bounce period -- References -- Chapter 4 - Modeling techniques -- 4.1 - Introduction -- 4.2 - Empirical models -- 4.2.1 - Low-dimensional models -- 4.2.2 - Ion and electron flux models -- 4.2.3 - Electric field models -- 4.2.4 - Magnetic field models -- 4.2.4.1 - The internal magnetic field -- 4.2.4.2 - Modeling the external magnetic field -- 4.3 - Theoretical models -- 4.3.1 - Introduction -- 4.3.2 - The Rice Convection Model -- 4.3.3 - The MSM and MSFM -- 4.3.4 - The RCM-Equilibrium (RCM-E) -- 4.3.5 - RCM-Jupiter/Saturn -- 4.3.6 - Fontaine, Senior, Blanc, and Peymirat convection model -- 4.3.7 - The Chen ring current model -- 4.3.8 - The Fok ring current and the comprehensive ring current model (CRCM) models -- 4.3.9 - The ring current-atmosphere interactions model (RAM) -- 4.3.10 - The ring current-atmosphere interactions model with self-consistent magnetic field (RAM-SCB) -- 4.3.11 - HEIDI -- 4.3.12 - GEMSIS -- 4.3.13 - Coupled global MHD models -- 4.3.14 - Data assimilation models -- 4.3.15 - Particle tracing algorithms -- 4.4 - Discussion and summary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 5 - Ring current development -- 5.1 - Introduction -- 5.2 - Ring current sources -- 5.2.1 - Plasma sheet -- 5.2.2 - Direct ionosphere to ring current plasma transfer? -- 5.3 - Ring current particle transport: convective and diffusive. , 5.4 - Effect of plasma sheet variations on ring current intensity -- 5.5 - Effects of magnetic self-consistency -- 5.6 - Model-data comparisons of ring current development -- 5.7 - Challenges for future understanding of ring current development -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 6 - Ring current decay -- 6.1 - Introduction -- 6.2 - Charge exchange -- 6.3 - Coulomb collisions -- 6.4 - Precipitation losses -- 6.4.1 - Observations of particle precipitation -- 6.4.2 - Wave-particle interactions -- 6.4.3 - Field line curvature scattering -- 6.4.4 - Other mechanisms -- 6.5 - Magnetopause losses -- 6.6 - Discussion and conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 7 - Cross-regional coupling -- 7.1 - Roles of ring current in magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling -- 7.2 - Magnetic effects of the ring current -- 7.3 - Ring current velocity anisotropy and plasma wave growths -- 7.4 - Electric coupling between the ring current and ionosphere -- 7.5 - Ring current moderation with the ionospheric conductivity -- 7.6 - Final remark -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 8 - Space weather effects and prediction -- 8.1 - Effects of space weather -- 8.2 - Spacecraft charging and electrostatic discharges -- 8.2.1 - Surface charging -- 8.2.2 - Worst-case charging environments and spacecraft design -- 8.2.3 - Frame charging and differential charging -- 8.2.4 - Internal charging -- 8.2.5 - Internal charging models -- 8.2.6 - Space environment models and charging analyses -- 8.3 - Geomagnetically induced currents -- 8.4 - Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 9 - Comparative planetary ring currents -- 9.1 - Comparing planetary magnetospheres -- 9.1.1 - Solar wind versus rotation -- 9.1.2 - Neutral materials -- 9.1.2.1 - Satellites -- 9.1.2.2 - Gas, dust, and plasmas from satellites. , 9.1.2.3 - Calculating losses from passive satellites -- 9.2 - How does a rotationally driven magnetosphere operate? -- 9.3 - Comparing ring current populations -- 9.3.1 - Kennel-Petschek theory -- 9.3.2 - Limiting spectra at the target planets -- 9.4 - Ring current population dynamics and sources -- 9.5 - Ring current population losses -- 9.6 - Uranus (and Neptune) -- 9.7 - Discussion -- 9.8 - Appendix -- References -- APPENDIX 1 - Frequently Used Abbreviations -- APPENDIX 2 - Useful Websites and Download Links -- APPENDIX 3 - Illustrative Movies and Other Materials -- References -- Index -- Back cover.