UCLA

Recent work has shown that ElectroMagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves tend to occur in four distinct regions, each having their own characteristics and morphology. Here, we use nonlinear test-particle simulations to examine the range of energetic electron scattering responses to two EMIC wave groups that occur at low L-shells and overlap the outer radiation belt electrons. The first group consists of low-density, H-band region b waves, and the second group consists of high-density, He-band region c waves. Results show that while low-density EMIC waves cannot precipitate electrons below ∼16 MeV, the high density EMIC waves drive a range of linear and nonlinear behaviors including phase bunching and trapping. In particular, a nonlinear force bunching effect can rapidly advect electrons at low pitch-angles near the minimum resonant energy to larger pitch angles, effectively blocking precipitation and loss. This effect contradicts conventional expectations and may have profound implication for observational campaigns.