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Abstract Resonant scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves is one of the most effective mechanisms of relativistic electron losses in Earth’s inner magnetosphere. Low‐altitude spacecraft measurements, however, often show that the energy range of precipitating electrons is wider than theoretical predictions based on the cold plasma dispersion of EMIC waves. To explain this discrepancy, we examine the diffusion rates of EMIC waves by including hot plasma effects in their dispersion relation. Using the observed ion distribution functions, we investigate the hot plasma effects on the EMIC wave dispersion for a wide frequency range. We develop analytical equations for hot plasma effects on EMIC dispersion, and apply this model to diffusion rate evaluations. We show that hot ion effects tend to increase the minimum resonant energy for the frequency range around wave intensity maxima, but can decrease the minimum resonant energy for the higher‐frequency part of wave spectra.
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Energetic Electron Precipitation Driven by the Combined Effect of ULF, EMIC, and Whistler Waves
Abstract Energetic electron losses in the Earth's inner magnetosphere are dominated by outward radial diffusion and scattering into the atmosphere by various electromagnetic waves. The two most important wave modes responsible for electron scattering are electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and whistler‐mode waves (whistler waves) that, acting together, can provide rapid electron losses over a wide energy range from few keV to few MeV. Wave‐particle resonant interaction resulting in electron scattering is well described by quasi‐linear diffusion theory using the cold plasma dispersion, whereas the effects of nonlinear resonances and hot plasma dispersion are less well understood. This study aims to examine these effects and estimate their significance for a particular event during which both wave modes are quasi‐periodically modulated by ultra‐low‐frequency (ULF) compressional waves. Such modulation of EMIC and whistler wave amplitudes provides a unique opportunity to compare nonlinear resonant scattering (important for the most intense waves) with quasi‐linear diffusion (dominant for low‐intensity waves). The same modulation of plasma properties allows better characterization of hot plasma effects on the EMIC wave dispersion. Although hot plasma effects significantly increase the minimum resonant energy,Emin, for the most intense EMIC waves, such effects become negligible for the higher frequency part of the hydrogen‐band EMIC wave spectrum. Nonlinear phase trapping of 300–500 keV electrons through resonances with whistler waves may accelerate and make them resonant with EMIC waves that, in turn, quickly scatter those electrons into the loss‐cone. Our results highlight the importance of nonlinear effects for simulations of energetic electron fluxes in the inner magnetosphere.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2021749
- PAR ID:
- 10374975
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
- Volume:
- 127
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2169-9380
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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