The wave-particle interactions between chorus waves and electrons in the Earth radiation belts

Abstract

There exists a large number of high-energy electrons and various plasma waves in the Earth’s radiation belts. The chorus waves, as a kind of whistler-mode waves can cause electrons acceleration and loss by wave-particle interactions, thus playing a vital role in the dynamic evolution of the radiation belts. To improve our understandings of such mechanisms and facilitate people to anticipate the dramatic variation of space environment, we utilized the wave and field data from Van Allen Probes to statistically study the acceleration and loss timescale of electrons by chorus waves. The first part in this paper presents the temporal-spatial distribution of the chorus characteristics and background field parameters. The second part exhibits the loss and acceleration timescales of electrons caused by chorus waves. The main results in this paper includes: As geomagnetic activity and L shells increase, the pitch angle and momentum diffusion of electrons driven by chorus waves strengthens. The dramatic acceleration of electrons by chorus waves exists in the region with lower fpe /fce . Compared with keV electrons, MeV electrons are hard to be scattered by chorus waves, and electrons be precipitated into the atmosphere within several hours during highly disturbed times.