Quantifying electron scattering by electrostatic solitary waves in the Earth's bow shock

Abstract

The electrostatic fluctuations are always present in the Earth's bow shock at frequencies above about 100 Hz, but the effects of this wave activity on electron dynamics have not been quantified yet. In this paper, we quantify electron pitch-angle scattering by electrostatic solitary waves, which make up a substantial part of the electrostatic fluctuations in the Earth's bow shock and were recently shown to be predominantly ion holes. We present analytical estimates and test-particle simulations of electron pitch-angle scattering by ion holes typical of the Earth's bow shock and conclude that this scattering can be rather well quantified within the quasi-linear theory. We use the observed distributions of ion hole parameters to estimate pitch-angle scattering rates by the ensemble of ion holes typical of the Earth's bow shock. We use the recently proposed theory of stochastic shock drift acceleration to show that pitch-angle scattering of electrons by the electrostatic fluctuations can keep electrons in the shock transition region long enough to support acceleration of thermal electrons by a factor of a few tens, that is up to a few hundred eV. Importantly, the electrostatic fluctuations can be more efficient in pitch-angle scattering of ≲1 keV electrons, than typically observed whistler waves.