POTENTIAL WAVES FOR RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON-SCATTERING AND STOCHASTIC ACCELERATION DURING MAGNETIC STORMS

The possibility of electron stochastic energization to relativisitic e nergies (greater than or equal to 1 MeV) via resonant wave-particle in teractions during a magnetic storm is explored. The minimum electron e nergy E-min for cyclotron resonant interaction with various electromag netic waves is calculated for conditions representative of storm-times . Since E-min > 1 MeV for resonance with L-mode ion cyclotron waves, i ntense stormtime EMIC waves could contribute to relativistic electron loss, but not acceleration. Inside the plasmapause whistler mode waves , and highly oblique magnetosonic waves near the lower hybrid frequenc y, can resonate with electrons over the important energy range from si milar to 100 keV to similar to 1 MeV. In low density regions outside t he plasmapause, the whistler, RX, LO and Z modes can resonate with ele ctrons over a similar energy range. These waves have the potential to contribute to the stochastic acceleration of electrons up to relativis tic energies during magnetic storms.