Geomagnetically Trapped Light Isotopes Observed with the Detector NINA

The detector New Instrument for Nuclear Analysis (NINA) aboard the satellite Resurs-01-N4 detected hydrogen and helium isotopes geomagnetically trapped, while crossing the South Atlantic Anomaly. Deuterium and tritium at L shell < 1.2 were unambiguously recognized. The 3He and 4He power law spectra, reconstructed at L shell = 1.2 and B < 0.22 G, have indices equal to 2.30 ± 0.08 in the energy range 12-50 MeV nucleon- 1 and 3.4 ± 0.2 in 10-30 MeV nucleon -1, respectively. The measured 3He/4He ratio and the reconstructed deuterium profile as a function of L shell bring one to the conclusion that the main source of radiation belt light isotopes at Resurs altitudes (~800 km) and for energy greater than 10 MeV nucleon-1 is the interaction of trapped protons with residual atmospheric helium.