Determining pitch-angle diffusion coefficients for electrons in whistler turbulence

TL;DR

This paper uses Particle in Cell simulations to analyze how energetic electrons diffuse in pitch-angle due to resonant interactions with whistler turbulence, comparing results with an analytical model.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation-based method to determine pitch-angle diffusion coefficients for electrons in whistler turbulence, validating against an analytical model.

Findings

Simulation results match analytical predictions for diffusion coefficients.

Resonant interactions significantly influence electron transport in the heliosphere.

The study enhances understanding of wave-particle interactions in plasma turbulence.

Abstract

Transport of energetic electrons in the heliosphere is governed by resonant interaction with plasma waves, for for electrons with sub-GeV kinetic energies specifically with dispersive modes in the whistler regime. We have performed Particle in Cell simulations of kinetic turbulence with test-particle electrons. The pitch-angle diffusions coefficients of these test-particles have been analyzed and compared to an analytical model for left- and right-handed polarized wavemodes.