Nonlinear chorus wave effects on energetic electrons reexamined

Electron energy transport due to nonlinear plasma wave particle interactions are carried out by wave and particles resonating with each other. Many nonlinear wave studies conducted in the past have only considered the main resonance between wave and electrons. However, we have found through test particle simulations that although independent, separate contributions from higher order resonances can be small, but they can have a rather significant impact on the main-order contribution hence the total nonlinear wave effects. Contribution from different orders can interfere with each other hence the overall nonlinear wave effect is significantly different from that of just the major resonance. Therefore in the nonlinear wave particle interaction regime, contribution from different resonant orders is inseparable and contributions from higher order wave-particle resonances should be all included. For the same token, banded plasma waves should be used in nonlinear wave studies instead of assumed monochromatic waves. By including all the essential factors mentioned above, the overall electron transport due to the nonlinear plasma wave effects take the form of diffusion-like rather than advection, which was reported in many previous studies. It is also found that chorus wave induced electron transport is one important mechanism for the formation of electron butterfly pitch angle distribution.