Nonlinear resonant interactions of radiation belt electrons with intense whistler-mode waves

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current understanding of nonlinear resonant interactions between energetic electrons and intense whistler-mode waves in Earth's radiation belt, highlighting the need to incorporate nonlinear effects into models.

Contribution

It provides an overview of nonlinear interaction theory and discusses approaches to include these effects in radiation belt simulations, emphasizing observational and theoretical insights.

Findings

Nonlinear interactions significantly influence electron dynamics.

Classical quasi-linear models are insufficient for intense wave interactions.

Discussion of methods to incorporate nonlinear effects into global models.

Abstract

The dynamics of the Earth's outer radiation belt, filled by energetic electron fluxes, is largely controlled by electron resonant interactions with electromagnetic whistler-mode waves. The most coherent and intense waves resonantly interact with electrons nonlinearly, and the observable effects of such nonlinear interactions cannot be described within the frame of classical quasi-linear models. This paper provides an overview of the current stage of the theory of nonlinear resonant interactions and discusses different possible approaches for incorporating these nonlinear interactions into global radiation belt simulations. We focused on observational properties of whistler-mode waves and theoretical aspects of electron nonlinear resonant interactions between such waves and energetic electrons.