Published December 1989 | Version v1
Journal article

Particle-in-cell simulations of stochastic electron acceleration

  • 1. Earth and Space Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (USA)
  • 2. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024 (USA)

Description

The results of a series of particle-in-cell simulations of stochastic wave--particle interaction are presented. The threshold for stochasticity was confirmed. The simulations demonstrate that in a strong magnetic field plasma waves with quiver velocities much less than the speed of light but above a certain threshold can stochastically accelerate electrons to energies far greater than 1 MeV. Moreover, self-consistency effects drive return currents and produce energetic runaway electrons that violate an invariant of motion

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Fluids B
Journal Volume
1
Journal Issue
12
Series
Phys. Fluids B.
Journal Page Range
2530-2532
ISSN
0899-8221
CODEN
PFBPE