Subcritical Growth of Electron Phase-space Holes in Planetary Radiation Belts
- Aalto University, Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Espoo, FI-02150 (Finland)
- The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA, 90245 (United States)
The discovery of long-lived electrostatic coherent structures with large-amplitude electric fields (1⩽E ⩽500 mV/m) by the Van Allen Probes has revealed alternative routes through which planetary radiation belts’ acceleration can take place. Following previous reports showing that small phase-space holes, with qϕ/T{sub e}{sup c}≃10{sup −2}--10{sup −3}, could result from electron interaction with large-amplitude whistlers, we demonstrate one possible mechanism through which holes can grow nonlinearly (i.e., γ∝√ϕ) and subcritically as a result of momentum exchange between hot and cold electron populations. Our results provide an explanation for the common occurrence and fast growth of large-amplitude electron phase-space holes in the Earth’s radiation belts.
- OSTI ID:
- 22875845
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 846, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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