Radiation belt electron dynamics driven by large-amplitude whistlers

Acceleration of radiation belt electrons driven by oblique large‐amplitude whistler waves is studied. We show analytically and numerically that this is a stochastic process; the intensity of which depends on the wave power modified by Bessel functions. The type of this dependence is determined by the character of the nonlinear interaction due to coupling between action and phase. The results show that physically significant quantities have a relatively weak dependence on the wave power. Key Points Nonlinear electron acceleration by a whistler wave is a stochastic process The heating rate has a power law dependence on the magnitude of the wave field Index of power law is determined by the type of nonlinear resonant interaction