DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1205074
title: Simulation Data Output Used In Test-Particle Simulations Of Linear And Nonlinear Interactions Between A 2D Whistler-Mode Wave Packet And Radiation Belt Electrons

description: <strong>Dataset</strong>

The zip file contains the data used in the paper "Test-particle simulations of linear and nonlinear interactions between a 2D whistler-mode wave packet and radiation belt electrons" submitted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) by da Silva et al. See the GRL paper and Supporting Information for details about the simulations. This data has been uploaded to Zenodo to comply with AGU's data policy.

To load the data please run the self-explanatory script load_hyb_test_part.m in Matlab. See README.txt for further instructions.

C. L. da Silva, Mar/21/2018

 

<strong>Corresponding Article</strong>

C. L. da Silva, R. E. Denton, M. K. Hudson, R. M. Millan, K. Liu, J. Bortnik (2018) Test-particle simulations of linear and nonlinear interactions between a 2D whistler-mode wave packet and radiation belt electrons, Submitted for publication, <em>Geophys. Res. Lett.</em>, doi:10.1002/2018GL077877.

 

<strong>Article Abstract</strong>

Using test-particle simulations, we describe (in 2D) the interaction of an ensemble of electrons with a discrete whistler-mode wave packet, which propagates with a moderate wave-normal angle with respect to the background magnetic field. We evaluate both the average transport coefficients used in quasi-linear diffusion transport, and also the full nonlinear wave-particle interactions. The magnitude of the calculated diffusion coefficients is found to increase proportionally to the wave amplitude squared, in agreement with quasi-linear diffusion theory. Cyclotron resonance of counterstreaming electrons (n=1 harmonic number) is more important for pitch-angle scattering than Landau resonance. Landau resonance of costreaming electrons (n=0) is comparable to cyclotron resonance for energy diffusion and advection. Strong acceleration of high-pitch-angle, costreaming electrons arises in nonlinear wave-particle interactions with high amplitude waves. In our simulations with zero parallel electric field, the energy source for electron acceleration is the wave's perpendicular electric field, in both the cyclotron and Landau resonances. The Landau resonance can happen even with zero parallel electric field, if the wave packet propagates with a finite wave-normal angle. This resonance between the particle's azimuthal velocity and the wave fields leads to trapping and substantial parallel acceleration.

 

<strong>Article key points</strong>

Cyclotron resonance of counterstreaming electrons is dominant for pitch-angle scattering, consistent with quasi-linear theory

Landau and cyclotron resonances are comparable for acceleration; here the energy source is the wave perpendicular electric field in both

Substantial Landau parallel acceleration occurs with a finite wave-normal angle, even with zero parallel electric field

 

<strong>Acknowledgments</strong>

These simulations were performed at Dartmouth's Discovery computer cluster. We would like to thank all the supporting staff for their assistance and for their splendid maintenance of Discovery.