2021PRE_QL_NLregimes-5.pdf (9.99 MB)
Transitional regime of electron resonant interaction with whistler-mode waves in inhomogeneous space plasma
journal contribution
posted on 2021-12-08, 14:53 authored by Anton Artemyev, Anatoly NeishtadtAnatoly Neishtadt, Alexey Vasiliev, Didier MourenasResonances with electromagnetic whistler-mode waves are the primary driver for the formation and dynamics of energetic electron fluxes in various space plasma systems, including shock waves and planetary radiation belts. The basic and most elaborated theoretical framework for the description of the integral effect of multiple resonant interactions is the quasi-linear theory, that operates through electron diffusion in velocity space. The quasi-linear diffusion rate scales linearly with the wave intensity, DQL ∼ B2w, which should be small enough to satisfy the applicability criteria of this theory. Spacecraft measurements, however, often detect whistle-mode waves sufficiently intense to resonate with electrons nonlinearly. Such nonlinear resonant interactions imply effects of phase trapping and phase bunching, which may quickly change the electron fluxes in a non-diffusive manner. Both regimes of electron resonant interactions (diffusive and nonlinear) are well studied, but there is no theory quantifying the transition between these two regimes. In this paper we describe the integral effect of nonlinear electron interactions with whistler-mode waves in terms of the time-scale of electron distribution relaxation, ∼ 1/DNL. We determine the scaling of DNL with wave intensity B2w and other main wave characteristics, such as wave-packet size. The comparison of DQL and DNL provides the range of wave intensity and wave-packet sizes where the electron distribution evolves at the same rates for the diffusive and nonlinear resonant regimes. The obtained results are discussed in the context of energetic electron dynamics in the Earth’s radiation belt.
Funding
Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 19-12- 00313
History
School
- Science
Department
- Mathematical Sciences
Published in
Physical Review EVolume
104Publisher
American Physical SocietyVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Rights holder
© American Physical SocietyPublisher statement
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review E and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.104.055203.Acceptance date
2021-10-21Publication date
2021-11-11Copyright date
2021ISSN
2470-0045eISSN
2470-0053Publisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Prof Anatoly Neishtadt. Deposit date: 23 October 2021Article number
055203Usage metrics
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