Influence of the wave characteristics on the electron radiation belt distribution Original Research Article

The three dimensional Salammbô diffusion code is used to study the influence of whistler mode wave scattering inside the plasmasphere on the high energy electron distribution. A combination of radial diffusion and pitch angle scattering leads to the formation of a pronounced high energy tail population in the outer radiation zone. The results are interpreted in terms of a recirculation process which produces a peak in the electron phase space density just inside the plasmapause.