Mapping for nonlinear electron interaction with whistler-mode waves

The resonant interaction of relativistic electrons and whistler waves is an important mechanism of electron acceleration and scattering in the Earth radiation belts and other space plasma systems. For low amplitude waves, such an interaction is well described by the quasi-linear di?usion theory, whereas nonlinear resonant e?ects induced by high-amplitude waves are mostly investigated (analytically and numerically) using the test particle approach. In this paper, we develop a mapping technique for the description of this nonlinearresonant interaction. Using the Hamiltonian theory for resonant systems, we derive the main characteristics of electron transport in the phase space and combine these characteristics to construct the map. This map can be considered as a generalization of the classical Chirikov map for systems with nondi?usive particle transport and allows us to model the long-term evolution of the electron distribution function.</div

Theoretical model of the nonlinear resonant interaction of whistler-mode waves and field-aligned electrons

The nonlinear resonant interaction of intense whistler-mode waves and energetic electrons in the Earth’s radiation belts is traditionally described by theoretical models based on the consideration of slow-fast resonant systems. Such models reduce the electron dynamics around the resonance to the single pendulum equation, that provides solutions for the electron nonlinear scattering (phase bunching) and phase trapping. Applicability of this approach is limited to not-too-small electron pitch-angles (i.e., sufficiently large electron magnetic moments), whereas model predictions contradict to the test particle results for small pitch-angle electrons. This study is focused on such field-aligned (small pitch-angle) electron resonances. We show that the nonlinear resonant interaction can be described by the slow-fast Hamiltonian system with the separatrix crossing. For the first cyclotron resonance, this interaction results in the electron pitch-angle increase for all resonant electrons, contrast to the pitch-angle decrease predicted by the pendulum equation for scattered electrons. We derive the threshold value of the magnetic moment of the transition to a new regime of the nonlinear resonant interaction. For field-aligned electrons the proposed model provides the magnitude of magnetic moment changes in the nonlinear resonance. This model supplements existing models for not-too-small pitch-angles and contributes to the theory of the nonlinear resonant electron interaction with intense whistler-mode waves.</div