A Wave Model and Diffusion Coefficients for Plasmaspheric Hiss
Parameterized by Plasmapause Location
Abstract
The scattering of electrons via plasmaspheric hiss whistler-mode plasma
waves has profound consequences for the dynamics of electrons in the
inner terrestrial magnetosphere, including the radiation belts.
Consequently, simulations of inner magnetospheric electron dynamics
incorporate hiss wave models, though these models are often
parameterized by quantities convenient to describe particle populations
(e.g. L-shell). However, recent studies have revealed that the spatial
distribution of plasmaspheric hiss wave power is only weakly dependent
on L-shell. Instead, it is dictated by the density structure of the
plasmasphere (including radial extent and azimuthal structure). In this
work, we create a plasmaspheric hiss wave model, and corresponding
particle diffusion coefficients, parameterized by plasmapause location
instead of L-shell, in order to quantify the importance of including
plasmapause-organization of hiss waves for inner magnetosphere models.
Significant differences in electron scattering lifetimes are found when
comparing L-shell parameterized hiss and plasmapause-parameterized hiss
wave models on the timescales of days. This implies that
plasmapause-parameterization of hiss waves may be important for modeling
specific geomagnetic events.