Work

Potential waves for relativistic electron scattering and stochastic acceleration during magnetic storms

Year: 1998

Type: article

Abstract: The possibility of electron stochastic energization to relativisitic energies (≥ 1 MeV) via resonant wave‐particle interactions during a magnetic storm is explored. The minimum electron energy Emin for cyclotron resonant interaction with various electromagnetic waves is calculated for conditions representative of storm‐times. Since Emin > 1 MeV for resonance with L‐mode ion cyclotron waves, intense stormtime EMIC waves could contribute to relativistic electron loss, but not acceleration. Inside the plasmapause whistler mode waves, and highly oblique magnetosonic waves near the lower hybrid frequency, can resonate with electrons over the important energy range from ∼ 100 keV to ∼ 1 MeV. In low density regions outside the plasmapause, the whistler, RX, LO and Z modes can resonate with electrons over a similar energy range. These waves have the potential to contribute to the stochastic acceleration of electrons up to relativistic energies during magnetic storms.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/98gl01002

Authors: Richard B. Horne, Richard M. Thorne

Institutions: British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

Subfield: Space and Planetary Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Natural Environment Research Council

Award: Magnetospheric Wave-Particle Processes