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Resonant interactions between electromagnetic whistler-mode waves and energetic electrons play a key role in controlling electron flux dynamics in Earth's radiation belts and driving electron precipitation into the upper atmosphere. Although this process is well investigated and modeled under the assumption of a dipole magnetic field, the dipole approximation often breaks down in plasma injection regions, where strong currents of hot ions significantly deform the magnetic field configuration. In these regions, spacecraft often detect intense whistler-mode waves, whereas ground-based observations suggest enhanced electron precipitation. In this study, we combine quasi-linear theory, extended to account for the non-dipole magnetic field configuration, and spacecraft observations of whistler-mode waves to quantify wave–particle interactions. We demonstrate that electron scattering by these waves is largely affected by non-dipole magnetic fields. We also provide a simple empirical fit for realistic electron scattering rates, which can be readily incorporated into existing global models of electron dynamics.
Zhou et al. (Sat,) studied this question.