Determining Pitch-Angle Diffusion Coefficients for Electrons in Whistler Turbulence

Abstract

Transport of energetic electrons in the heliosphere is governed by resonant interaction with plasma waves, for electrons with sub-GeV kinetic energies specifically with dispersive modes in the whistler regime. In this paper, particle-in-cell simulations of kinetic turbulence with test-particle electrons are performed. The pitch-angle diffusion coefficients of these test particles are analyzed and compared to an analytical model for left-handed and right-handed polarized wave modes.

Keywords

• cosmic-ray transport
• turbulence
• plasma waves
• particle-in-cell simulations