Phase-bunching and other non-linear processes occurring in gyroresonant wave-particle interactions

Abstract

We consider the movement of individual electrons in a magnetized plasma in which a monochromatic wave is propagating in the whistler mode. We derive simple expressions which give the displacement of the electrons as a function of time, the phase angle that their velocity vector makes with the magnetic component of the wave, their pitch angle and energy changes. A useful formula is obtained which gives the velocity range over which particles remain trapped inside the wave, as a function of the wave intensity and of the initial phase angle of the particle. It is shown that even strictly resonant particles can escape from the wave when their initial phase angle is very small. From the derived expressions, it is possible to compute the phase-bunching effect which occurs approximately at one trapping wavelength behind the leading edge of the interaction region. We deduce also the total amount of energy which is taken from (or given to) the wave by magnetospheric electrons in both cases of naturally existing or artificially injected particles. It is shown that these non-linear amplification processes can lead to very large VLF amplitude in the magnetosphere.