Perpendicular electron heating by absorption of auroral kilometric radiation

We investigate the possibility of perpendicular heating of electrons and the generation of quasiperpendicular (type 2) electron conics by particle diffusion in velocity space due to wave–particle interaction with intense auroral kilometric radiation. By introducing a ring distribution and a warm plasma dispersion relation, we conduct a basic simulation of conditions near an auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) source. We then solve the diffusion equation using a finite difference algorithm. The results show significant perpendicular electron heating as might exist adjacent to the AKR source region and indicate that the main characteristics of a quasiperpendicular (type 2) electron conic distribution can be reproduced under these conditions.