Phase Decoherence Within Intense Chorus Wave Packets Constrains the Efficiency of Nonlinear Resonant Electron Acceleration

X.‐J. Zhang; O. Agapitov; A. V. Artemyev; D. Mourenas; V. Angelopoulos; W. S. Kurth; J. W. Bonnell; G. B. Hospodarsky

doi:10.1029/2020GL089807

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Phase Decoherence Within Intense Chorus Wave Packets Constrains the Efficiency of Nonlinear Resonant Electron Acceleration

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Phase Decoherence Within Intense Chorus Wave Packets Constrains the Efficiency of Nonlinear Resonant Electron Acceleration

X.‐J. Zhang, O. Agapitov, A. V. Artemyev, D. Mourenas, V. Angelopoulos, W. S. Kurth, J. W. Bonnell and G. B. Hospodarsky

Geophysical research letters, Vol.47(20), e2020GL089807

10/28/2020

DOI: 10.1029/2020GL089807

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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

electron acceleration

nonlinear wave particle interaction

wave frequency fluctuation

wave packets

wave phase fluctuations

whistler mode waves

Details

Title: Subtitle: Phase Decoherence Within Intense Chorus Wave Packets Constrains the Efficiency of Nonlinear Resonant Electron Acceleration
Creators: X.‐J. Zhang - University of California, Los Angeles
O. Agapitov - University of California, Berkeley
A. V. Artemyev - University of California, Los Angeles
D. Mourenas - CEA DAM Île-de-France
V. Angelopoulos - University of California, Los Angeles
W. S. Kurth - University of Iowa
J. W. Bonnell - University of California, Berkeley
G. 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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