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A new diffusion matrix for whistler mode chorus waves
Author(s) -
Horne Richard B.,
Kersten Tobias,
Glauert Sarah A.,
Meredith Nigel P.,
Boscher Daniel,
SicardPiet Angelica,
Thorne Richard M.,
Li Wen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/jgra.50594
Subject(s) - chorus , physics , diffusion , computational physics , plasmasphere , pitch angle , van allen radiation belt , earth's magnetic field , magnetosphere , geophysics , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , art , literature
Global models of the Van Allen radiation belts usually include resonant wave‐particle interactions as a diffusion process, but there is a large uncertainty over the diffusion rates. Here we present a new diffusion matrix for whistler mode chorus waves that can be used in such models. Data from seven satellites are used to construct 3536 power spectra for upper and lower band chorus for 1.5≤ L ∗ ≤10 MLT, magnetic latitude 0°≤| λ m |≤60° and five levels of K p . Five density models are also constructed from the data. Gaussian functions are fitted to the spectra and capture typically 90% of the wave power. The frequency maxima of the power spectra vary with L ∗ and are typically lower than that used previously. Lower band chorus diffusion increases with geomagnetic activity and is largest between 21:00 and 12:00 MLT. Energy diffusion extends to a few megaelectron volts at large pitch angles >60° and at high energies exceeds pitch angle diffusion at the loss cone. Most electron diffusion occurs close to the geomagnetic equator (<12°). Pitch angle diffusion rates for lower band chorus increase with L ∗ and are significant at L ∗ =8 even for low levels of geomagnetic activity, while upper band chorus is restricted to mainly L ∗ <6. The combined drift and bounce averaged diffusion rates for upper and lower band chorus extend from a few kiloelectron volts near the loss cone up to several megaelectron volts at large pitch angles indicating loss at low energies and net acceleration at high energies.