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Statistical Study of Whistler‐Mode Waves and Expected Pitch Angle Diffusion Rates During Dispersionless Electron Injections
Author(s) -
Ghaffari R.,
Cully C. M.,
Gabrielse C.
Publication year - 2021
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 - 10.1029/2021gl094085
Subject(s) - whistler , physics , pitch angle , electron , diffusion , mode (computer interface) , geophysics , geology , computational physics , quantum electrodynamics , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , operating system
Energetic electron injections can generate or amplify electromagnetic waves such as whistler‐mode waves. These waves can resonantly interact with available particles to affect their equatorial pitch angle. This process can be considered as a diffusion that scatters particles into the loss cone. This study investigates whistler‐mode wave generation in conjunction with electron injections using in situ wave measurements by the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms mission during 2011–2020. We characterize the whistler‐mode wave behavior associated with 733 selected dispersionless electron injections and dipolarizing flux bundles (DFBs). We observe intense wave activity and strong diffusion associated with only the top 5% and 10% of the selected injection events, respectively. We also study the wave activity when there is a sharp rise in the northward component of the magnetic field around the injection time (DFBs). In this case, the generated wave powers increase, and the power change is at least two times greater than non‐DFB injections.