ELECTRON ACCELERATION DUE TO CHERENKOV DAMPING OF ALFVEN WAVES

It is shown by the quasilinear Fokker-Planck approach that the kinetic shear Alfven wave (KSAW), present in the magnetosphere, can, via Cher enkov damping, accelerate electrons, feed the magnetosphere with magne tic energy, and generate noninductive DC currents aligned with the amb ient magnetic field. As a specific application, we consider plasmapaus e electrons, determine the current level and electron acceleration rat e generate by the KSAW. Also, the acceleration length has been obtaine d. The generated current has values compatible with the Birkeland curr ent level, and the energy flux necessary to generate such a current fi ts well with the value of the KSAW energy flux observed in the magneto sphere.