Radial diffusion of radiation belt electrons: quasilinear theory and beyond

Abstract:  Radial diffusion is a key transport process that takes place in the radiation belts. In addition to re-distributing radiation belt particles, inward radial diffusion energizes particles and outward radial diffusion can contribute to loss of particles across the magnetopause. Accurate radial diffusion models are therefore essential to modelling and predicting the overall radiation belt dynamics, and protecting the satellites and people that pass through the radiation belts. However, radial diffusion is typically studied under quasilinear theory, which assumes that the driving wave activity is relatively low amplitude and acts on the particles for a long time - assumptions that are not always realistic. This talk will discuss the theory underlying radial diffusion, present a methodology to study radial diffusion beyond quasilinear theory and discuss some of the implications that this has for radiation belt dynamics.