Loss Rates of Trapped Electrons by Atmospheric Collisions

The collisions of energetic trapped electrons with constituents of the atmosphere has long been recognized as a possible loss mechanism. There is no question that collisions occur, and the influence of such collisions on trapped electrons is readily calculable, within the limitations of our knowledge of the atmosphere and geomagnetic field. The basic question of geophysical interest is the role of these collisions in the overall history of the trapped electrons. One wishes to know whether collisions are an important loss mechanism, or whether other processes such as plasma instabilities or interactions with electric and magnetic fields dominate the behavior.