Precipitation of Relativistic Electrons by Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves

Abstract:

We use the electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave fields produced in a two dimensional hybrid code simulation (full dynamics particle ions, but inertialess fluid electrons) in dipole geometry in order to investigate the effect of magnetospheric EMIC waves on relativistic electrons. The plane of the simulation includes variation in the L shell direction and along magnetic field lines. Relativistic test particle electrons are inserted into the simulation when the wave fields are near their maximum amplitude. These electrons can be scattered into the loss cone so that they precipitate into the ionosphere. We find the effective pitch angle diffusion coefficient and probability of precipitation using these test particles. The pitch angle diffusion coefficients are largest for relativistic energies greater than 2 MeV, though they may be substantial for lower energies. The probability of precipitation is highest for low energy particles at small initial equatorial pitch angle. For high initial equatorial pitch angles, the probability of precipitation increases greatly with respect to particle energy. Starting from an isotropic pitch angle distribution of relativistic electrons with a Gaussian spread in the relativistic momentum, we find only a small drop in the probability of precipitation during 13 s time as the particle energy decreases. But that result depends on the initial pitch angle distribution. Starting with a distribution of particles steeply peaked at 90° initial equatorial pitch angle, the probability of precipitation would be greater for high-energy particles. We will discuss the mechanism of pitch angle scattering.