Simulation study of the nonlinear processes of whistler-mode chorus generation in the Earth's inner magnetosphere

Abstract:

Whistler-mode chorus emissions play curial roles in the evolution of radiation belt electrons. Chorus emissions are coherent waves with varying frequencies in the typical frequency range of 0.2 to 0.8 f_ce0, where f_ce0 is the electron gyrofrequency at the magnetic equator. They often have a gap at half the local cyclotron frequency. The generation process of chorus has been explained by the nonlinear wave growth theory [see review by Omura et al., in AGU Monograph "Dynamics of the Earth's Radiation Belts and Inner Magnetosphere, 2012] and has been reproduced by self-consistent numerical experiments [e.g., Katoh and Omura, GRL 2007, JGR 2011, 2013, EPS 2016]. We study dependencies of the chorus generation process on properties of energetic electrons, the background magnetic field, and the thermal plasma condition. First, we conduct a series of electron hybrid simulations for different temperature anisotropy (A_T) of the initial velocity distribution function of energetic electrons. We vary A_T in the range from 3 to 9 with changing the number density of energetic electrons (N_h) so as to study whether distinct rising-tone chorus emissions are reproduced or not in the assumed initial condition. Simulation results reveal that the number density of energetic electrons (N_h) required for the chorus generation decreases as the temperature anisotropy of energetic electrons increases. We also find that reproduced spectra becomes hiss-like for large N_h cases. Next, we carry out simulations by changing the gradient of the background magnetic field intensity along a field line. Simulation results clarify that the small magnetic field gradient lowers the threshold amplitude for the chorus generation. These simulation results demonstrate the validity of the nonlinear wave growth theory and suggest that the coherent nonlinear wave-particle interaction is essential for generation of whistler-mode chorus emissions in the magnetosphere.