Relativistic electron precipitation events driven by electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves

Journal Article · Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4892185· OSTI ID:22303786

Sibeck, D. ^[1]; Tel'nikhin, A.; Kronberg, T. ^[2]

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1. NASA Goddard Space FlightCenter, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 (United States)
2. Department of Physics and Technology, Altai State University, Barnaul (Russian Federation)

We adopt a canonical approach to describe the stochastic motion of relativistic belt electrons and their scattering into the loss cone by nonlinear EMIC waves. The estimated rate of scattering is sufficient to account for the rate and intensity of bursty electron precipitation. This interaction is shown to result in particle scattering into the loss cone, forming ∼10 s microbursts of precipitating electrons. These dynamics can account for the statistical correlations between processes of energization, pitch angle scattering, and relativistic electron precipitation events, that are manifested on large temporal scales of the order of the diffusion time ∼tens of minutes.

• OSTI ID: 22303786
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 8; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
INCLINATION
LOSS CONE
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCATTERING