Simulation of Satellite Interactions with Solar Flares using Analysis System (ANSYS) Software.

Abstract

Solar flares produce high-energy particles and radiation that are dangerous to living organisms. The x-rays from flares are stopped by our atmosphere well above the Earth's surface. However, they do disturb the Earth's ionosphere, which in turn disturbs some radio communications. Along with energetic ultraviolet radiation, they heat the Earth’s outer atmosphere, causing it to expand. This increases the drag on Earth-orbiting satellites, reducing their lifetime in orbit. Furthermore, these atmosphere changes and intense radio emission from flares can degrade the precision of Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements. Hence, computer simulation of these interactions is very important for improved satellite designs. In this study, the use of magnetic fields to deflect energetic charged particles has been proposed as a means of simulating the interaction of satellites from the harmful radiation encountered in space. These so-called active magnetic shields must provide a region of space, which is protected from energetic particles below a given energy while also maintaining a safe level of magnetic field strength within the shielded region. Toroidally shaped environments with circular coils of wire distributed on the surface of the spacecraft have been used to mimic this condition with ANSYS software. Numerical techniques have been employed to demonstrate that particles below a given energy, including galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are completely shielded from a region inside the toroidal spacecraft. Appropriate amplitudes of the currents flowing in the circular coils were chosen while the magnetic field-strength inside this region were made to be arbitrarily small within the toroidal spacecraft. While many practical issues must be addressed with this computational design, this study has been able to demonstrate the possibility of constructing a magnetic field suitable for protecting satellites from GCRs during long-duration manned missions.