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Title: Pitch-angle diffusion of electrons through growing and propagating along a magnetic field electromagnetic wave in Earth's radiation belts

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4923267· OSTI ID:22490940
;  [1];  [2];  [1]; ;  [3];  [4]
  1. Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701 (Korea, Republic of)
  2. National Fusion Research Institute, Daejeon 305-333 (Korea, Republic of)
  3. Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon 305-348 (Korea, Republic of)
  4. Department of Astronomy and Space Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763 (Korea, Republic of)

The diffusion of electrons via a linearly polarized, growing electromagnetic (EM) wave propagating along a uniform magnetic field is investigated. The diffusion of electrons that interact with the growing EM wave is investigated through the autocorrelation function of the parallel electron acceleration in several tens of electron gyration timescales, which is a relatively short time compared with the bounce time of electrons between two mirror points in Earth's radiation belts. Furthermore, the pitch-angle diffusion coefficient is derived for the resonant and non-resonant electrons, and the effect of the wave growth on the electron diffusion is discussed. The results can be applied to other problems related to local acceleration or the heating of electrons in space plasmas, such as in the radiation belts.

OSTI ID:
22490940
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English