Quantitative Global Modeling of Wave-Particle Interactions

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Resonant interactions with plasma waves are responsible for the scattering loss and stochastic acceleration of electrons in the Earth’s radiation belts. Knowledge of the power spectral intensity of the waves can be used to evaluate the timescale for either loss or acceleration. In association with R. Horne and Nigel Meredith (British Antarctic Survey), we have initiated a broad-based study to quantify such scattering processes with the ultimate goal of understanding the mechanisms responsible for the Earth’s diffuse aurora and the acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons and ions.

Recent Publications:

Bortnik, J., R. M. Thorne, and N. P. Meredith (2008), The unexpected origin of plasmaspheric hiss from discrete chorus emissions, Nature, 452, doi:10.1038/nature06741.

Li, W., Y. Y. Shprits, and R. M. Thorne (2007), Dynamical evolution of energetic electrons due to wave-particle interactions during storms, J. Geophys. Res., 112, A10220, doi:10.1029/2007JA012368.

Bortnik, J., R. M. Thorne, and N. P. Meredith (2007), Modeling the propagation characteristics of chorus using CRRES suprathermal electron fluxes, J. Geophys. Res., 112,A08204, doi:10.1029/2006JA012237.

Thorne, R. M., T. P. O’Brien, Y. Y. Shprits, D. Summers, and R. B. Horne, Timescale for MeV electron microburst loss during geomagnetic storms, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A09202, doi:10.1029/2004JA010882, 2005.

Horne, R. B., R. M. Thorne, Y. Y. Shprits, N. P. Meredith, S. A. Glauert, A. J. Smith, S. G. Kanekal, D. N. Baker, M. J. Engebretson, J. L. Posch, M. Spasojevic, U. S. Inan, J. S. Picket, and P. M. E. Decreau, Wave acceleration of electrons in the Van Allen radiation belts, Nature, 437, 227-230, 2005.

Horne, R. B., and R. M. Thorne, Relativistic electron acceleration and precipitation during resonant interactions with whistler-mode chorus, Geophys. Res., Lett., 30, (10), 1527, doi:10.1026/2003GL016973, 2003.