Very Oblique Whistler Mode Propagation in the Radiation Belts: Effects of Hot Plasma and Landau Damping

Q Ma; A. V Artemyev; D Mourenas; W Li; R. M Thorne; C. A Kletzing; W. S Kurth; G. B Hospodarsky; G. D Reeves; H. E Spence; J Wygant

doi:10.1002/2017GL075892

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Very Oblique Whistler Mode Propagation in the Radiation Belts: Effects of Hot Plasma and Landau Damping

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Very Oblique Whistler Mode Propagation in the Radiation Belts: Effects of Hot Plasma and Landau Damping

Q Ma, A. V Artemyev, D Mourenas, W Li, R. M Thorne, C. A Kletzing, W. S Kurth, G. B Hospodarsky, G. D Reeves, H. E Spence, …

Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(24), pp.12,057-12,066

12/28/2017

DOI: 10.1002/2017GL075892

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Abstract

Satellite observations of a significant population of very oblique chorus waves in the outer radiation belt have fueled considerable interest in the effects of these waves on energetic electron scattering and acceleration. However, corresponding diffusion rates are extremely sensitive to the refractive index N, controlled by hot plasma effects including Landau damping and wave dispersion modifications by suprathermal (15–100 eV) electrons. A combined investigation of wave and electron distribution characteristics obtained from the Van Allen Probes shows that peculiarities of the measured electron distribution significantly reduce Landau damping, allowing wave propagation with high N ∼ 100–200. Further comparing measured refractive indexes with theoretical estimates incorporating hot plasma corrections to the wave dispersion, we provide the first experimental demonstration that suprathermal electrons indeed control the upper limit of the refractive index of highly oblique whistler mode waves. Such results further support the importance of incorporating very oblique waves into radiation belt models. Key Points Van Allen Probes observation indicates an upper limit of wave refractive index controlled by hot electron effects Landau damping is reduced by field‐aligned hot electrons and does not strongly limit the propagation of very oblique waves The statistical wave magnetic power is stable for a range of wave normal angles before dropping above the resonance cone angle

Landau damping

maximum refractive index

oblique chorus waves

thermal electron effects

Van Allen Probes observation

Details

Title: Subtitle: Very Oblique Whistler Mode Propagation in the Radiation Belts: Effects of Hot Plasma and Landau Damping
Creators: Q Ma - Boston University
A. V Artemyev - University of California, Los Angeles
D Mourenas - CEA, DAM, DIF Arpajon France
W Li - Boston University
R. M Thorne - University of California, Los Angeles
C. A Kletzing - University of Iowa
W. S Kurth - University of Iowa
G. B Hospodarsky - University of Iowa
G. D Reeves - Los Alamos National Laboratory
H. E Spence - University of New Hampshire
J Wygant - University of Minnesota
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Geophysical research letters, Vol.44(24), pp.12,057-12,066
DOI: 10.1002/2017GL075892
ISSN: 0094-8276
eISSN: 1944-8007
Number of pages: 10
Grant note: ECT (13-041) NASA (NNX17AD15G; NNX17AG07G) AFOSR (FA9550-15-1-0158) EMFISIS (1001057397:01) JHU/APL (967399; 921647) NAS5-01072 NSF (AGS-1723588)
Language: English
Date published: 12/28/2017
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984200038402771

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