We show that nonlinear wave trapping plays a significant role in both thegeneration of whistler-mode chorus emissions and the acceleration ofradiation belt electrons to relativistic energies. We have performedparticle simulations that successfully reproduce the generation of chorusemissions with rising tones. During this generation process we find that afraction of resonant electrons are energized very efficiently by specialforms of nonlinear wave trapping called relativistic turning acceleration(RTA) and ultra-relativistic acceleration (URA). Particle energization bynonlinear wave trapping is a universal acceleration mechanism that can beeffective in space and cosmic plasmas that contain a magnetic mirrorgeometry.
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