SIMULATION OF WHISTLER WAVES EXCITED IN THE PRESENCE OF A COLD-PLASMA CLOUD - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CRRES MISSION

A one-dimensional electromagnetic particle simulation model is constructed to study the excitation of whistler waves in the presence of a cold plasma cloud for conditions representative of those after the release of lithium in the inner plasma sheet during the CRRES mission. The results indicate that a standing-wave pattern with discrete wave frequencies is formed within the cloud. The magnetic wave amplitude inside the cloud, which is limited by quasi-linear diffusion, is of the order of several nanoteslas. Assuming a magnetospheric loss cone of 5-degrees, the observed pitch angle diffusion produced by the whistler waves is sufficient to put the electrons on strong diffusion.