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Nonlinear interaction of outer zone electrons with VLF waves
Author(s) -
Albert J. M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl013941
Subject(s) - electron , physics , particle acceleration , cyclotron , test particle , diffusion , phase (matter) , acceleration , computational physics , monochromatic color , pitch angle , monochromatic electromagnetic plane wave , van allen radiation belt , trapping , phase velocity , electromagnetic radiation , atomic physics , magnetosphere , geophysics , optics , plasma , nuclear physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , ecology , biology , thermodynamics
Analytical expressions have been obtained for three different types of cyclotron‐resonant interaction of a test particle with a monochromatic electromagnetic wave: diffusion, phase bunching, and phase trapping. All three lead to changes in particle energy and pitch angle. They are evaluated for VLF waves and electrons at L = 5.5, to try to account for observed electron acceleration following magnetic storms. The results are that diffusion may be too slow, while phase bunching leads to deceleration. A maximal estimate of phase trapping, considered in isolation, leads to the acceleration of at least some 0.1 MeV electrons to ∼1 MeV in about 1 minute.
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