LANL, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
We present our numerical approach and preliminary results of the calculations of whistler and X-mode wave generation by a bunched electron beam in space. The artificial generation of whistler and X-mode plasma waves in space is among the candidate techniques to accomplish the radiation belt remediation (RBR), in an effort to precipitate energetic electrons towards the atmosphere to reduce their threat to low-Earth orbit satellites. Free-space propagation of an electron pulse in a constant background magnetic field was simulated with the CST particle-in-cell (PIC) solver, with the temporal evolution of the beam recorded. The SpectralPlasmaSolver (SPS) was then modified to use the recorded electron pulse propagation to calculate the real-time plasma waves generated by the beam. SPS simulation results of the wave generation for the upcoming Beam-PIE experiment as well as an ideal bunched electron beam are shown.
