Consistency of limiting and bounce averaged diffusion coefficients in pitch angle diffusion and energetic electron precipitation in the inner radiation belt

Abstract

Limiting and bounce averaged diffusion coefficients are calculated at different <i>L</i>-values in the inner radiation zone. The results show that their calculated values decrease with increasing equatorial pitch angles (α). The values of bounce averaged diffusion coefficient at α ≈

90^o are found to be nearly 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than those at α ≈ 30°, whereas limiting diffusion coefficients approach a zero value at α ≈ 90^o. The results agree well with the experimental fact that farther the pitch angles from the loss cone, less efficient is the diffusion of electrons into the loss cone and that the energetic electrons having pitch angles close to 90^o are stably trapped in the inner radiation zone.