American Geophysical Union, Journal of Geophysical Research, A5(108), 2003
DOI: 10.1029/2002ja009580
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1] First-order estimates indicate that the lifetime of energetic (a few MeV) electrons in the inner radiation belts (e.g., near L = 2) may be significantly reduced by in situ injection of whistler mode waves at radiated power levels of a few kW at frequencies of a few kHz. Our estimates are based on previously published results concerning the effect on the electron lifetimes of VLF signals from ground-based VLF transmitters operating in the 17–23 kHz range. Waves at lower frequencies (a few kHz) can drive diffusion rates that are higher by a factor of as much as $30 and can also be efficiently stored in the magnetospheric cavity, resulting in additional effective enhancement of wave power density of a factor of $16. This wave power enhancement is also expected to enhance the MeV electron diffusion rates.