Nonlinear interaction of energetic electrons with large amplitude chorus

[1] The effect of large amplitude chorus on energetic, radiation-belt electrons is evaluated using a general, relativistic, oblique, test-particle code. Three specific cases are examined: (A) Low-amplitude waves interacting at lowlatitudes exhibit the expected, linear scattering which leads to large-scale diffusive behavior. (B) Large-amplitude waves interacting at low-latitudes result in monotonic decreases in pitch-angle and energy due to a resonance dislocation effect, leading to large-scale de-energization and particle loss. (C) Large-amplitude waves interacting obliquely at high latitudes result in a combination of the above behaviors, as well as nonlinear phase-trapping which leads to rapid, dramatic increases in both energy and pitch-angle of a small portion of the test-particles. These results suggest that the intensity of individual, discrete wave elements is critical for quantifying the large-scale dynamics of the radiationbelts. Citation: Bortnik, J., R. M. Thorne, and U. S. Inan (2008), Nonlinear interaction of energetic electrons with large amplitude chorus, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L21102, doi:10.1029/ 2008GL035500.