Journal article
Phase Decoherence Within Intense Chorus Wave Packets Constrains the Efficiency of Nonlinear Resonant Electron Acceleration
Geophysical research letters, Vol.47(20), e2020GL089807
10/28/2020
DOI: 10.1029/2020GL089807
Abstract
Electron resonant interaction with whistler mode waves is traditionally considered as one of the main drivers of radiation belt dynamics. The two main theoretical concepts available for its description are quasi‐linear theory of electron scattering by low‐amplitude waves and nonlinear theory of electron resonant trapping and phase bunching by intense waves. Both concepts successfully describe some aspects of wave‐particle interactions but predict significantly different timescales of relativistic electron acceleration. In this study, we investigate effects that can reduce the efficiency of nonlinear interactions and bridge the gap between the predictions of these two types of models. We examine the effects of random wave phase and frequency variations observed inside whistler mode wave packets on nonlinear interactions. Our results show that phase coherence and frequency fluctuations should be taken into account to accurately model electron nonlinear resonant acceleration and that, along with wave amplitude modulation, they may reduce acceleration rates to realistic, moderate levels.
Key Points
Chorus wave phase randomly fluctuates between subpackets inside longwave packets
Wave phase coherence significantly influences the efficiency of electron acceleration via nonlinear resonant interaction
Fluctuations of wave frequency within longwave packets similarly reduce the efficiency of nonlinear resonant electron acceleration
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Phase Decoherence Within Intense Chorus Wave Packets Constrains the Efficiency of Nonlinear Resonant Electron Acceleration
- Creators
- X.‐J. Zhang - Planetary Science InstituteO. Agapitov - University of California, BerkeleyA. V. Artemyev - University of California, Los AngelesD. Mourenas - CEA DAM Île-de-FranceV. Angelopoulos - Planetary Science InstituteW. S. Kurth - University of IowaJ. W. Bonnell - University of California, BerkeleyG. B. Hospodarsky - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.47(20), e2020GL089807
- DOI
- 10.1029/2020GL089807
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- National Science Foundation (NSF) (2026375; 1914594) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (NAS5‐01072; NAS5‐02099)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/28/2020
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984455276302771
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