Resonant Electron Signatures in the Formation of Chorus Wave Subpackets

A 2‐D GCPIC simulation in a dipole field system has been conducted to explore the excitation of oblique whistler mode chorus waves driven by energetic electrons with temperature anisotropy. The rising tone chorus waves are initially generated near the magnetic equator, consisting of a series of subpackets, and become oblique during their propagation. It is found that electron holes in the wave phase space, which are formed due to the nonlinear cyclotron resonance, oscillate in size with time during subpacket formation. The associated inhomogeneity factor varies accordingly, giving rise to various frequency chirping in different phases of subpackets. Distinct nongyrotropic electron distributions are detected in both wave gyrophase and stationary gyrophase. Landau resonance is found to coexist with cyclotron resonance. This study provides multidimensional electron distributions involved in subpacket formation, enabling us to comprehensively understand the nonlinear physics in chorus wave evolution. Plain Language Summary Subpackets are a series of wave packets within chorus waves, characterized by wave amplitude modulation. In this study, we investigate the electron distributions in various phase spaces associated with subpacket formation, by performing a two‐dimensional simulation in a dipole field. It is found that the electrons can be trapped in the wave phase space through both cyclotron and Landau resonances. These two resonance interactions can also produce the “bump” and “plateau” shapes in momentum space, as well as the fine density structures in spatial space. Therefore, both cyclotron and Landau resonances play an important role in subpacket formation. Our study provides new inspiration for the nonlinear theory of chorus subpackets. Key Points Oblique chorus subpackets are generated in the 2‐D GCPIC simulation model Electron hole associated with the inhomogeneity factor oscillates with time during subpacket formation Cyclotron and Landau resonances coexist during subpacket formation