What does "Radial Transport" mean?
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Radial transport refers to the movement of gas or particles towards or away from the center of a disk, such as in galaxies or within the Earth’s radiation belts.
In Disk Galaxies
In galaxies, cold gas can flow in from the surrounding space. This flow can happen in two main ways: through unstable disks that might collapse or through streams of gas coming from the larger universe. Observations show that in many disk galaxies, the movement of gas is mainly inward. Even though some models suggest that gas should move in more aggressively, actual measurements often indicate lower inward movement. This suggests that gas from outer regions plays a significant role in what we see.
In Earth's Radiation Belts
In the context of Earth, radial transport involves how particles interact with waves in the environment surrounding the planet. These particles can gain energy from these waves, which can lead to faster movements. Traditional ways of studying this movement may not capture the rapid changes happening in these belts. Recent observations help scientists understand both fast and gradual movements of particles more clearly, showing that some processes happen much quicker than previously thought.