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Electron pitch-angle diffusion driven by oblique whistler-mode turbulence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

L. R. Lyons ,
R. M. Thorne  and
C. F. Kennel
L. R. Lyons
Affiliation:
Department of Meteorology, University of California, Los Angeles
R. M. Thorne
Affiliation:
Department of Meteorology, University of California, Los Angeles
C. F. Kennel
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles
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Abstract

A general description of cyclotron harmonic resonant pitch-angle scattering is presented. Quasi-linear diffusion coefficients are prescribed in terms of the wave normal distribution of plasma wave energy. Numerical computations are performed for the specific case of relativistic electrons interacting with a band of low frequency whistler-mode turbulence. A parametric treatment of the wave energy distribution permits normalized diffusion coefficients to be presented graphically solely as a function of the electron pitch-angle.

The diffusion coefficients generally decrease with increasing cyclotron harmonic number. Higher harmonic diffusion is insignificant at very small electron pitch-angles, but becomes increasingly important as the pitch-angle increases. One thus expected the rate of pitch-angle scattering to decrease with increasing electron energy, since the resonant value of the latter varies proportionately with harmonic number. This indicates that, in mirror-type magnet field geometrics, such as the Earth's radiation belts, the diffusion losses of high energy electrons are likely to be appreciably slower than those at low energy. Integration of the diffusion rates along a complete bounce orbit will be required to clarify this point, however, since the high-energy particles will be subject to more rapid first harmonic diffusion near their mirror points.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , December 1971 , pp. 589 - 606
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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